Ahmed Osman, Ahmed Mohamed Yehia Naguib and Azhar, Adriana Maisarah and Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz and Ahmad Mizher, Hussam Abdeljabar (2026) Can learning experience in pharmacy school shape a competent leader? A cross-sectional study on leadership development, mental wellbeing, and Islamic values. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 18 (12). pp. 1-11. ISSN 1877-1297 E-ISSN 1877-1300
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Abstract
Background and purpose: The contemporary healthcare landscape dictates that pharmacists demonstrate comprehensive leadership competencies alongside advanced clinical expertise to navigate complex patient-care environments effectively. While academic curricula and extracurricular engagements are recognized as primary mechanisms for cultivating these professional proficiencies, the psychological impact of assuming such roles—particularly the manifestation of academic burnout and stress—remains critically underexplored within the literature. This study investigates undergraduate pharmacy students' perceptions of how curricular frameworks and extracurricular activities contribute to leadership development, concurrently evaluating the mental wellbeing of student leaders and exploring the mitigating influence of culturally integrated ethical frameworks on psychological resilience. Educational activity and setting: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate pharmacy students (Years 2 to 4) at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The data collection instrument assessed leadership skills acquisition, perceptions of the pharmacy curriculum, the influence of extracurricular involvement, and elven core leadership competencies. Mental well-being was assessed using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS). Non-parametric statistical analyses, supplemented by the calculation of appropriate effect sizes, were employed to evaluate the data and determine practical significance. Findings: A total of 183 students responded; mostly female (63.9%) and in their final academic year (42.1%). A substantial majority (80.3%) affirmed that the formal academic curriculum facilitated their leadership development, although 53.8% advocated for the integration of dedicated, leadership-focused coursework. More than half of students reported moderate mental wellbeing (54.6%). Substantive differences in mental wellbeing were observed relative to the year of study, academic performance, intrinsic motivation to pursue pharmacy, and the volume of extracurricular participation, with these associations supported by moderate effect sizes.
| Item Type: | Article (Journal) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Pharmacy students, Leadership, Curriculum, Mental health, Extracurricular activities, Islamic values in pharmacy, Malaysia |
| Subjects: | L Education > L Education (General) R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | Kulliyyah of Pharmacy > Department of Pharmacy Practice Kulliyyah of Pharmacy |
| Depositing User: | Dr. AHMED OSMAN |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Oct 2026 10:55 |
| Last Update: | 02 Oct 2026 10:55 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-09-Q5368 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/131637 |
| Indexed In: | WOS and SCOPUS, ERA, Google Scholar |
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