One of the most effective methods for promoting and developing professionalism is through hands-on, practice-based experiences. Yet, there is a lack of research in Taiwan examining how experiential learning programs influence pharmacy students’ perspectives on professionalism, which is crucial for high-quality healthcare delivery. This research aimed to assess changes in the perceptions and attitudes of third-year pharmacy students toward professionalism after participating in an introductory-intermediate experiential learning course. A pre- and post-course comparative study was carried out in 2017, utilizing a self-administered survey. The participants were third-year students enrolled in a six-year pharmacy program. A 28-item questionnaire, rated on a 10-point Likert scale, was used to gauge the students' professionalism. Of the 28 items, 10 focused on the perceived significance of professionalism in pharmacy practice, while 18 items, adapted from the Pharmacy Professionalism Instrument, examined the students’ attitudes toward pharmacy professionalism. The differences in the survey responses before and after the course were analyzed using an independent t-test, with a significance level set at 0.05.The study involved 52 pharmacy students, who exhibited notable improvements in three key areas of professionalism after completing the 5-week experiential course: altruism (p = 0.035), accountability (p = 0.026), and duty (p = 0.002).The results suggest that pharmacy students’ attitudes toward professionalism can be significantly altered through a structured experiential learning program within the community pharmacy context. Such programs are effective in fostering positive attitudes in students regarding altruism, accountability, and duty, all of which are fundamental elements of professionalism in healthcare.
