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Introduction <p>Sports pharmacy is a developing field in which pharmacists support athlete health, promote safe medication use, and contribute to anti-doping efforts. Despite international recognition of pharmacists’ potential roles, limited evidence exists on pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions of this area, particularly in Northern Ireland.</p> Aim <p>To explore pharmacy students’ perceptions and experiences of sports pharmacy, with a particular focus on its relevance to pharmacy education, professional roles, and career aspirations.</p> Method <p>An exploratory qualitative design was employed, using Braun and Clarke’s inductive thematic analysis. Sixteen MPharm students (Years 1–4) from a university in Northern Ireland participated in semi-structured interviews conducted online between January and May 2025. Data were coded independently by two researchers, with themes developed through consensus.</p> Results <p>A total of sixteen students were interviewed. Data saturation was reached at the fourteenth interview, when no new codes or themes were identified, and this was confirmed through researcher consensus following review of coded transcripts. Six key themes were developed from analysis of the full dataset. Interviews lasted between 30 and 45&#xa0;min (mean length = 37 ± 5&#xa0;min): (1) Lack of curricular embedding, (2) Latent recognition of professional relevance, (3) Constraints in curriculum integration, (4) Feasible ways for embedding sports pharmacy, (5) Envisioned professional evolution, and (6) Motivation shaped by exposure and identity. Awareness was consistently low across all years. Students recognised sports pharmacy’s value for athlete safety and career development, but expressed concerns about curriculum overload, limited expertise, and variable relevance. Practical solutions included guest lectures, interdisciplinary workshops, and optional or elective modules to provide exposure without adding to the curriculum burden. Sports pharmacy was perceived as an expanding niche with potential to shape future roles for pharmacists.</p> Conclusion <p>Pharmacy students valued the potential of sports pharmacy but highlighted challenges in embedding it within an already overloaded curriculum. Flexible and targeted approaches, such as electives and guest lectures, may enhance awareness while accommodating diverse student interests. Future research should evaluate such strategies and their impact on preparing pharmacists for roles in sports pharmacy and anti-doping.</p>

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Integrating sports pharmacy into pharmacy education: a qualitative study of pharmacy students’ perceptions, barriers, and educational priorities

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月24日

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  • Kingston Rajiah,
  • Ellen Kirwan

摘要

Introduction

Sports pharmacy is a developing field in which pharmacists support athlete health, promote safe medication use, and contribute to anti-doping efforts. Despite international recognition of pharmacists’ potential roles, limited evidence exists on pharmacy students’ knowledge and perceptions of this area, particularly in Northern Ireland.

Aim

To explore pharmacy students’ perceptions and experiences of sports pharmacy, with a particular focus on its relevance to pharmacy education, professional roles, and career aspirations.

Method

An exploratory qualitative design was employed, using Braun and Clarke’s inductive thematic analysis. Sixteen MPharm students (Years 1–4) from a university in Northern Ireland participated in semi-structured interviews conducted online between January and May 2025. Data were coded independently by two researchers, with themes developed through consensus.

Results

A total of sixteen students were interviewed. Data saturation was reached at the fourteenth interview, when no new codes or themes were identified, and this was confirmed through researcher consensus following review of coded transcripts. Six key themes were developed from analysis of the full dataset. Interviews lasted between 30 and 45 min (mean length = 37 ± 5 min): (1) Lack of curricular embedding, (2) Latent recognition of professional relevance, (3) Constraints in curriculum integration, (4) Feasible ways for embedding sports pharmacy, (5) Envisioned professional evolution, and (6) Motivation shaped by exposure and identity. Awareness was consistently low across all years. Students recognised sports pharmacy’s value for athlete safety and career development, but expressed concerns about curriculum overload, limited expertise, and variable relevance. Practical solutions included guest lectures, interdisciplinary workshops, and optional or elective modules to provide exposure without adding to the curriculum burden. Sports pharmacy was perceived as an expanding niche with potential to shape future roles for pharmacists.

Conclusion

Pharmacy students valued the potential of sports pharmacy but highlighted challenges in embedding it within an already overloaded curriculum. Flexible and targeted approaches, such as electives and guest lectures, may enhance awareness while accommodating diverse student interests. Future research should evaluate such strategies and their impact on preparing pharmacists for roles in sports pharmacy and anti-doping.