Workplace wellbeing in community pharmacy practice: A cross-sectional study in Can Tho, Vietnam

AIMS Public Health. 2024 Mar 11;11(1):258-272. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024013. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Background: Among pharmacy workers, low workplace wellbeing can lead to reduced effectiveness. However, to date, studies on this issue are limited within the community pharmacy setting in Vietnam.

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the component aspects of workplace wellbeing and their associations with demographic characteristics.

Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Can Tho, Vietnam. Self-administered questionnaires were hand-delivered to all pharmacy workers working at selected community pharmacies. The workplace wellbeing scale comprised 18 items.

Results: In total, 382 pharmacy workers participated in this study. Factor analysis revealed three fundamental aspects to workplace wellbeing: Factor 1 - perceived self-worth and job satisfaction, Factor 2 - positive emotions with work, and Factor 3 - negative emotions with work. Factor 1 showed a positive correlation with Factor 2, with a correlation coefficient (ρ) of 0.509, while both Factor 1 (ρ = -0.399) and Factor 2 (ρ = -0.416) demonstrated negative correlations with Factor 3. Higher income was associated with higher positive emotions with work (P = 0.008), higher perceived self-worth and job satisfaction (P = 0.013), and lower negative emotions with work (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Workplace wellbeing of pharmacy workers in their professional environments was associated with financial aspects. These findings suggest that policies aimed at improving income for pharmacy workers could bring benefits to enhancing job satisfaction and workplace wellbeing.

Keywords: Vietnam; community pharmacy; factor analysis; workplace wellbeing.