Coping mechanisms used by pharmacists to deal with stress, what is helpful and what is harmful?

Wejdan Shahin; Sara Issa; Marwah Jadooe; Massara Shmoae; Muhammed Yelegin; Sharmitha Selvarajah; Ieva Stupans; Kay Dunkley; Thilini Thrimawithana

doi:10.1016/j.rcsop.2022.100205

Coping mechanisms used by pharmacists to deal with stress, what is helpful and what is harmful?

Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2023 Mar:9:100205. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2022.100205. Epub 2022 Dec 5.

Authors

Wejdan Shahin¹, Sara Issa¹, Marwah Jadooe¹, Massara Shmoae¹, Muhammed Yelegin¹, Sharmitha Selvarajah¹, Ieva Stupans¹, Kay Dunkley², Thilini Thrimawithana¹

Affiliations

¹ Discipline of Pharmacy, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
² Pharmacists' Support Services, 381, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Australian pharmacists encountered increased stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has raised questions regarding the effectiveness of the coping mechanisms used to manage this high work-related stress. Identifying useful and harmful coping mechanisms is critical for providing advice regarding addressing pharmacists' future work-related stress.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impact of pharmacy work on stress experienced by Australian pharmacists and the coping mechanisms used during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also aimed to evaluate the pharmacists' perceptions of the impact of these coping mechanisms on their stress.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Practising pharmacists and interns were recruited to complete an online survey that included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), which was used to measure pharmacists' work-related stress, and the Brief-COPE scale, used to assess the coping mechanisms used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The key outcome measure was the PSS score. A multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between coping mechanisms and stress levels in a sample of Australian pharmacists.

Results: A total of 173 pharmacists and interns were recruited. The mean PSS was 18.02 (SD = 6.7). Avoidant coping mechanisms such as social withdrawal (β = 0.31; p = 0.0001) were significantly positively associated with work-related stress. In contrast, exercise was significantly negatively associated with work-related stress (β = -0.21; p = 0.009). The most frequently reported perceived barrier to seeking help was feeling burnt out and underappreciated.

Conclusions: This study highlights the association of coping mechanisms used by pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic with work-related stress. The study results demonstrate the importance of physical activity and spending time with pets in reducing work-related stress levels. Avoiding harmful coping mechanisms such as social withdrawal and drinking alcohol is recommended. This study also highlights the need for interventional studies to reduce work-related stress levels among pharmacists by addressing useful coping mechanisms.

Keywords: Coping mechanisms; Covid19 pandemic; Perceived stress scale; Pharmacists.