ABSTRACT
Objective. To determine the extent to which pharmacy faculty engaged in remote work during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and, secondarily, to characterize pharmacy faculty and administrator perceptions of remote work.Methods. A 28-question online survey was sent to 6548 members of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Questions centered on the extent of remote work and perceptions of its impact on productivity, effectiveness, and work-life balance. Focus groups were held to provide additional insight, and data were analyzed statistically.Results. In total, 6322 AACP members met inclusion criteria, of whom 1293 responded to the survey (21% response rate). At least one faculty member responded from 139 schools (99% response rate), and at least one administrator responded from 126 schools (89% response rate). During the pandemic, 97% of faculty were permitted to work remotely, 94% of whom did so at least some of the time. Most faculty indicated no change or an improvement in productivity (85%) and effectiveness (80%). Similarly, most administrators indicated no change or an increase in their unit's productivity (81%) and effectiveness (85%). More than half of respondents indicated better work-life balance while working remotely.Conclusion. Nearly all respondents were permitted to work remotely at least some of the time during the pandemic. Considering that most faculty and administrators believe productivity and effectiveness were not compromised and that there appear to be benefits to work-life balance, schools of pharmacy in the United States should consider permitting faculty to work remotely some of the time as we navigate the pandemic and thereafter.
ABSTRACT
Background: An earlier follow-up study from the CogEx rehabilitation trial showed little change in symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress during the first COVID-19 lockdown compared to pre-pandemic measurements. Objective(s): Here we provide a second follow-up set of behavioral data on the CogEx sample. Method(s): Data were obtained from the CogEx study, a randomized controlled trial of exercise and cognitive rehabilitation in people with progressive MS involving 11 centres in North America and Europe. Participants completed the same COVID Impact Survey and self-report measures of depression, anxiety and MS symptoms that had been obtained during the first pandemic lockdown period. Result(s): The average time between measurements was 11.4 (SD=5.56) months. Sample size declined from 131 to 72 largely because pandemic restrictions prevented data collection from sites in Denmark and England. There were no significant differences in age, sex, EDSS, disease course and duration between those who participated in the current follow-up study (n=74) and the group that could not (n=57). One participant caught Covid in the time between assessments. Participants now took a more negative view of their mental/psychological wellbeing (p=.0001), physical wellbeing (p=.0009) and disease course (p=.005) compared to their last assessment. Depression scores increased on the HADS-depression scale (p = .01) and now exceeded the clinically significant threshold of >= 8.0 for the first time. Anxiety scores on the HADS remained unchanged. Poorer mental wellbeing was predicted by HADS depression scores (p=.012) and a secondary-progressive disease course (p=.0004). Conclusions and Relevance: A longer follow-up period revealed the later onset of clinically significant depressive symptoms on the HADS and a decline in self-perceptions of mental and physical wellbeing associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.