Workplace stress in community pharmacies in England: associations with individual, organizational and job characteristics

Abstract

The growth in corporate ownership of community pharmacies, which is associated with more stressful working environments, together with current economic pressures could have consequences not only for the future well-being of pharmacists but also for patient safety.

What can community pharmacy learn from the experiences of transition to practice for novice doctors and nurses? A narrative review

“…Pharmacists are reporting burnout, professional isolation, reduced job satisfaction and compromised well‐being, some of which has been linked to risky behaviour . In addition to rising clinical workloads, novice community pharmacists are increasingly expected to perform management duties as part of their role: an expectation that has led to ‘clinical–commercial’ dichotomies and conflict . It is therefore important to understand the possible impact of the private‐sector environment and its associated ‘target culture’ on the transition of novice community pharmacists.…”

Community pharmacists’ opinions on skill-mix and delegation in England

“…Staffing levels insufficient for their heavy workload and preventing time to train up current team members were identified by some; reflecting the literature [8,[24][25][26][27][28][29] A high number of pharmacy support roles were part-time. Staffing levels insufficient for their heavy workload and preventing time to train up current team members were identified by some; reflecting the literature [8,[24][25][26][27][28][29] A high number of pharmacy support roles were part-time.…”

Investigating the organisational factors associated with variation in clinical productivity in community pharmacies: a mixed-methods study

“…22 A subsequent survey of community pharmacists provided evidence of a significant relationship between organisational culture, particularly the balance between business and professional values, and pharmacists' work stress and the potentially detrimental effect on patient safety of working within an intensely targets-driven culture. 23,24 Moreover, there is evidence that the organisational culture extant within pharmacies under different types of ownership may differ (Dr Sally Jacobs, University of Manchester, 2012, personal communication) and that ownership type may be associated with variation in work stress. 23 Evidence from a number of studies has described a relationship between workload and working patterns on pharmacists' work-related stress, 23,25,26 and the role of the pharmacist's manager (particularly whether or not they are a pharmacist themselves) in determining job satisfaction.…”

“…23,24 Moreover, there is evidence that the organisational culture extant within pharmacies under different types of ownership may differ (Dr Sally Jacobs, University of Manchester, 2012, personal communication) and that ownership type may be associated with variation in work stress. 23 Evidence from a number of studies has described a relationship between workload and working patterns on pharmacists' work-related stress, 23,25,26 and the role of the pharmacist's manager (particularly whether or not they are a pharmacist themselves) in determining job satisfaction. 27 Other research has suggested that organisational factors may be associated with the occurrence of dispensing errors 24,28 and qualitative research on locum pharmacists has raised concerns that patients are put at risk because of the increasing reliance on temporary staff.…”