The Italian higher education system is actively updating the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) curriculum to address evolving healthcare demands post-COVID-19 and to emphasize clinical competencies. Investigating the experiences of Italian pharmacists who have moved to Great Britain (GB) can provide important insights into the applicability of skills and knowledge acquired through Italian pharmacy education. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of Italian pharmacists practicing in GB concerning their Italian pharmacy education and to identify the challenges and opportunities they encounter in their new professional setting, with the goal of guiding the Italian Government and relevant stakeholders (Ministry of University and Research, MUR) in enhancing the clinical relevance and international alignment of the MPharm curriculum. A 50-item survey was created, pilot tested, and evaluated for face and content validity by an expert panel. The survey collected data on participants’ demographics, motivations for relocating to GB, and their professional experiences in both Italy and GB, using Likert-type scales alongside open- and closed-ended questions. Convenience sampling was employed, and no formal sample size calculation was performed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize responses with frequencies and percentages for Likert-type and categorical variables.
Among approximately 281 Italian-qualified pharmacists registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council in GB, 54 completed the survey, representing an estimated 19.2% of the population. The primary reasons for leaving Italy included low job satisfaction (38.9%) and limited career prospects (83.3%), while motivations for moving to GB included clinically oriented roles (68.5%) and higher salaries (79.6%). Notably, nearly two-thirds of respondents considered their Italian pharmacy education inadequate for fully meeting the requirements of practicing in GB. The contrast between Italian and GB pharmacy education—particularly in clinical training and practical experience—underscores the necessity of updating the Italian MPharm curriculum to reflect current professional demands, which would also support the international mobility of Italian pharmacists.
