Occupational burnout and job satisfaction among community pharmacists

Ilias Katsogiannis; Eirini Manara; Aliki Peletidi; Angeliki Bistaraki; Theodoros Constantinides; Christos Kontogiorgis

doi:10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100445

Occupational burnout and job satisfaction among community pharmacists

Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2024 Apr 17:14:100445. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100445. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Authors

Ilias Katsogiannis¹, Eirini Manara², Aliki Peletidi^{3

4}, Angeliki Bistaraki⁵, Theodoros Constantinides¹, Christos Kontogiorgis¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece.
² School of Health Sciences, Metropolitan College, Greece.
³ Pharmacy Programme, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Cyprus.
⁴ School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
⁵ Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Crete, Greece.

Abstract

Introduction: Community pharmacists (CPs) are the most accessible healthcare professionals in primary care due to pharmacies' open-door policy and convenience, resulting in high patient and prescription volumes, and numerous free-of-charge consultations. Therefore, they are at high risk for burnout.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the levels of burnout among community pharmacists in Greece, marking the first investigation of its kind within the country. Additionally, this study aimed to explore potential correlations between demographic variables and other health-related factors with burnout scores.

Methods: This study used a quantitative cross-sectional design involving two validated questionnaires(the Greek version of Maslach (MBI) questionnaire and the SF-36 questionnaire). Prior to data collection, all the relevant documentation was approved by the Metropolitan College Research Ethics Committee and was adopted under the auspices of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association. Random sampling was used. Data collection period was July to August 2022.

Results: A total of 368 responses were included in the analysis, with the majority being pharmacy-owners (n = 292, 79.3%). Notably, a significant proportion of respondents were female practitioners working within community pharmacy settings (n = 230, 62.5%). Analysis revealed that the sample exhibited low levels of personal achievement (M = 30.99, SD = 6.41), high levels of emotional exhaustion (M = 41.73, SD = 6.94), and moderate levels of depersonalization (M = 23.38, SD = 3.78), indicative of substantial occupational burnout. Furthermore, gender had a discernible impact on depersonalization, with women scoring higher than men (t = -3.29, p < 0.01). Pharmacists who identified medicine shortages as their primary challenge in daily practice reported lower emotional burnout and depersonalization, albeit with a diminished sense of accomplishment (t = -2.62, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: This study sheds light on burnout levels and health-related quality of life among community pharmacists in Greece.

Keywords: Community pharmacist's burnout; Greece; MBI questionnaire; SF-36 questionnaire.