Elaboration of psychodiagnostic tools for assessing the level of development of professionally important socio-psychological characteristics of a specialist in pharmacy

Aim. To select tests that will allow assessing the level of development of socio-psychological characteristics (SPChs) of specialists in pharmacy. Materials and methods. The methods of expert evaluations, analytical, comparative and logical methods were used. Practical psychologist and professionals specializing in the staff recruitment for pharmaceutical institutions took part in the survey. The results of the expert survey are convergent, the degree of consistency of expert representations is high, and it is confirmed by the coefficient of concordance, which is equal to 0.826. The actual value of the Pearson criterion is considerably greater than the table one (χf > χtabl). Results. On the basis of the research conducted it has been found that for selection of specialists in pharmacy and determination of their SPChs the following methods are more often used abroad: survey with the subsequent interviewing; qualification with the subsequent interviewing; testing and / or interviewing; testing for professional competence with the practical examination. Due to the algorithm for selection of tests for the evaluation of professionally important SPChs of specialists in pharmacy the final list of psychodiagnostic testing methods of pharmacy specialists was formed. It included Questionnaire (16PF) by Raymond B. Cattell, Stambulova’s method, “Vocabulary Labyrinth” method, questionnaire for determining the level of self-esteem, V. Boyko’s diagnostic method for communicative attitude, as well as the assessment of communicative and organizational inclinations in the process of communication. Conclusions. The methods of psychodiagnostic testing proposed can assess the level of development of socio-psychological characteristics of a specialist in pharmacy.

Statement of the problem. The work of specialists in pharmacy is multifaceted and requires knowledge, skills and abilities from them, and above all professionalism. In this case, professionalism is achieved not only by the level of education received in higher education institutions, but also by the experience of work, and wish to study, develop and career advancement. On the other hand, new conditions of management, the rapid development of pharmacy, the constant updating of software and other factors caused by market relations require pharmacists with new knowledge not only in the field of pharmacology and pharmacy, but also in the field of modern information technology, as well as the skills of sales, communication and settling conflicts.
Analysis of recent research and publications. There are many works devoted to the study of the professional competence level of pharmacy professionals. Among them it is worth mentioning the works by Tolochko V. M., Galiy L. V., Ponomarenko M. S., Kabachna A. V., Mnushko Z. M., Pestun I. V., etc.; they mainly studied professional competences of domestic and foreign specialists in pharmacy.
Identification of aspects of the problem unsolved previously. One of the most commonly used estimation tools of both professional competencies and SPChs is the standardized, time-limited test consisting of a set of tasks or particular traits designed to identify certain features. The test method justification has been based both on the analysis of the experience of foreign pharmacies (England, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, etc.) and the results of the expert questioning of domestic institution leaders, 92.7 % of them expressed their opinion on the feasibility of testing pharmacy specialists in two directions -professional and socio-psychological components.
Objective statement of the article. The aim of the article was to select tests that will allow assessing the level of development of SPChs of specialists in pharmacy.
Presentation of the main material of the research. In order to determine the level of formation of the professionally important SPChs for specialists in pharmacy it is necessary to develop the appropriate psychodiagnostic tools. To select specialists in pharmacy and determine their SPChs the following methods are more often used abroad: an interview with subsequent interviews (England, Italy) (27.10 %); qualification with the subsequent interviewing (France) (20.60 %); testing and / or interviewing (Germany, Switzerland) (27.80 %); testing for professional competence with the practical examination (24.50 %) (Fig. 1a) [1][2][3][4].
Almost a quarter of foreign pharmacy managers in order to assess SPChs, which they want to see from their employees, uses testing and / or interviewing. The results of the survey of the heads of domestic pharmacies conducted indicate that today the methods of selection are not always applied when hired for work (76.6 %) (Fig. 1b).
However, in today's conditions of the pharmaceutical market variability and the actuality of creating a patient-centric space there is a problem of selection of specialists in pharmacy, who not only have a high level of professional competence, but also definite SPChs required for performing their professional activities. This, in turn, determines the need to select and substantiate the appropriate methods for assessing SPChs.
To select tests for discovery of professionally important (SPChs) specialists for a pharmacy a survey was conducted by leading psychologists whose views on tests to determine the characteristics of specialists coincide. Two categories of specialists -psychologists and professionals specializing in recruitment of the staff for pharmaceutical institutions were experts. All specialists have a higher education: psychologists -100 % with the psychological education; specialists in the personnel recruitment -67 % of pharmacists and 33 % of the personnel management.
The work experience of specialists is: up to 5 years -7 % of specialists, 5-10 years -21 % of specialists, 10-20 years -29 % of specialists, 20-30 years -35 % of specialists, more than 30 years -8 %. The sample of experts is representative. The use of psychologists and specialists in the personnel recruitment as experts is due to the need to take into account both the psychological aspects of work and the specificity of the pharmaceutical institution activity, current trends in world pharmacy and the rules of good pharmacy practice.
The psychodiagnostic tests that would take into account the pharmacy specificity was selected on the basis of the algorithm proposed (Fig. 2).
The degree of consistency of expert representations is high; it has been confirmed by the coefficient of concordance, which is equal to 0.826. The actual value of the Pearson criterion is considerably greater than the table one (χ 2 f > χ 2 tabl ). This allows us to assert nonrandomness of the consistency in their opinions. Based on this, the general list of methods for diagnosing professionally important SPChs of specialists in pharmacy has been identified (Tab. 1 and Fig. 3).
Thus, on the basis of the studies conducted for psychodiagnostic testing of pharmacists in order to determine the level of development of SPChs of specialists in pharmacy the following  as well as the assessment of communicative and organizational inclinations in the process of communication (Tab. 2). The test methods proposed are common, but they allow assessing those SPChs that a specialist in pharmacy needs for performing the professional   [5][6][7]14] Provision of an integral characteristic of the "individual psychological characteristics and the emotional-volitional sphere of the personality" makes it possible to clarify the character traits, aptitudes and interests of the personality Psychoemotional stability (balan-ce, stress resistance, ability to self-adjustment of feelings, conflict-free) Moral qualities (responsibility, honesty, sense of duty) Stambulova's method (Х11) [10][11][12]15] It is aimed to assess the level of development of the own volitional qualities: drivenness, persistence and perseverance, courage and determination, initiativity and autonomy, self-control and endurance Strong-willed qualities (drivenness, initiativity, energy) "Vocabulary La-byrinth" method (Х20) [9,13] It is aimed at studying communicative skills in communication, determining the type of interaction and cooperation Intellectual (cognitive) qualities (intellectual lability, memory, attention, thinking, creativity) activities at the appropriate level, providing implementation of the requirements of good pharmacy practice, and creating a patient-centered space of a pharmacy institution.

Fig. 2. The algorithm for selection of tests for assessing the professionally important SPChs for specialists in pharmacy
Thus, the set of tests selected will allow to thoroughly investigate SPChs, which a specialist in pharmacy should have. Conclusions 1. The relevance of formation of the complex of psychodiagnostic tools for assessing the level of development of socio-psychological characteristics of specialists in pharmacy has been determined. The methods of psychodiagnostic testing proposed can assess the level of development of socio-psychological characteristics of a specialist in pharmacy.
2. The methods of selection of specialists in pharmacy used by foreign and domestic pharmacy managers have been studied.
3. Based on the studies of the level of development of the socio-psychological characteristics of pharmacists the following psychodiagnostic tools have been selected: Questionnaire (16PF) by Raymond B. Cattell, Stambulova's method, "Vocabulary Labyrinth" method, questionnaire for determining the level of selfesteem, V. Boyko's diagnostic method for communicative attitude, as well as the assessment of communicative and organizational inclinations in the process of communication.
Conflict of Interests: authors have no conflict of interests to declare. 1 2 3 Questionnaire for determining the level of self-esteem (Х32) [8,13] It is aimed at studying a set of factors of attitude towards oneself: self-esteem, autosympathy, selfinterest, expected attitude from others, self-acceptance, self-control, etc.
Personal attitude (value system, performance capability, self-esteem, selfconception) V. Boyko's diagnostic method for communicative attitude (Х35) [5][6] It is intended to identify the negative communicative types of the specialist's attitudes towards other people (various kinds of cruelty in relation to people and judgments about them, the tendency to make unreasonable generalizations of negative facts in relations with partners), and to substantiate negativism in judgments about people and the negative personal experience of communication with others Attitude to people (empathy, communication skills, customer orientation) The assessment of communicative and organizational inclinations in the process of communication (Х46) [5][6][11][12][13][14] It is intended for revealing of communicative and organizational tendencies of the person (ability to clearly and quickly establish business and comradely contacts with people, the desire to expand contacts, participation in group activities, ability to influence on people, etc.) Attitude (self-discipline, responsibility, team orientation) Table 2