ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated considerable changes in the delivery of pharmacy services, with pharmacists experiencing increasing demands and a high rate of burnout. The ability to categorize pharmacists based on their burnout risk and associated factors could be used to tailor burnout interventions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify subgroups (profiles) of pharmacists and use these profiles to describe interventions tailored to improve pharmacist's well-being. METHODS: A survey was disseminated to pharmacists working in Australia during April and June 2020. The survey measured demographics, burnout, and psychosocial factors associated with working during COVID-19. A two-step cluster analysis was used to categorize pharmacists based on burnout and other variables. RESULTS: A total of 647 survey responses contained data that were used for analysis. Participants were mostly female (75.7%) and working full time (65.2%). The final cluster analysis yielded an acceptable two-cluster model describing 2 very different pharmacist experiences, using 10 variables. Cluster 2 (representing 53.1% of participants) describes the "affected" pharmacist, who has a high degree of burnout, works in community pharmacy, experiences incivility, is less likely to report sufficient precautionary measures in their workplace, and has had an increase in workload and overtime. In contrast, cluster 1 (representing 46.9% of participants) describes the profile of a "business as usual" hospital pharmacist with the opposite experiences. Interventions focused on the "affected" pharmacist such as financial support to employ specialized staff and equitable access to personal protective equipment should be available to community pharmacists, to reduce the risk to these frontline workers. CONCLUSION: The use of cluster analysis has identified 2 distinct profiles of pharmacists working during COVID-19. The "affected" pharmacist warrants targeted interventions to address the high burnout experienced in this group.
ABSTRACT
Objectives The global COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated significant changes in the delivery of pharmacy services, with pharmacists experiencing increasing demands and a high rate of burnout. The ability to categorise pharmacists based on their burnout risk and associated factors, could be used to tailor burnout interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to identify sub-groups (profiles) of pharmacists and use these profiles to describe interventions tailored to improve pharmacist’s wellbeing. Methods A survey was disseminated to pharmacists working in Australia during April and June 2020. The survey measured demographics, burnout and psychosocial factors associated with working during COVID-19. A two-step cluster analysis was used to categorise pharmacists based on burnout and other variables. Results 647 survey responses contained data that were used for analysis. Participants were mostly female (75.7%) and working full-time (65.2%). The final cluster analysis yielded an acceptable 2-cluster model describing two very different pharmacist experiences, using 10 variables. Cluster two (representing 53.1% of participants) describes the “affected” pharmacist, who has a high degree of burnout, works in community pharmacy, experiences incivility, is less likely to report sufficient precautionary measures in their workplace, and has had an increase in workload and overtime. In contrast, cluster one (representing 46.9% of participants) describes the “business as usual” pharmacist profile of a hospital pharmacist with the opposite experiences.Interventions focused on the “affected” pharmacist such as financial support to employ specialised staff and equitable access to PPE should be available to community pharmacists, to reduce the risk to these frontline workers. Conclusions The use of cluster analysis has identified two distinct profiles of pharmacists working during COVID-19. The “affected” pharmacist warrants targeted interventions to address the high burnout experienced in this group.
ABSTRACT
Background COVID-19 has impacted the psychological wellbeing of healthcare workers and has forced pharmacists to adapt their services. Objective To measure burnout and describe the work and psychosocial factors affecting pharmacists during COVID-19, and to compare males and females. Setting An online survey was distributed to a convenience sample of pharmacists practicing in any setting in Australia during April and June 2020. Method The survey collected demographic data, burnout scores using the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), psychosocial and work-related variables using questions adapted from previous surveys. It was tested for readability by a group of pharmacists and academic clinicians before distribution via social media and professional organisations. Main outcome measure Burnout was calculated using mean MBI scores, descriptive statistics were used to report work and psychosocial variables and Pearson's chi-square compared males and females. Results Overall, 647 responses were analysed. Most participants were female n = 487 (75.7%) with hospital n = 269 (42.2%) and community n = 253 (39.9%) pharmacists well represented. Mean (SD) for emotional exhaustion (possible range 0-54) and depersonalisation (possible range 0-30) were 28.5 (13.39) and 7.98 (5.64), which were higher (increased burnout) than reported pre-COVID-19. Personal accomplishment (range 0-48, lower scores associated with burnout) mean (SD) 36.58 (7.56), was similar to previously reported. Males reported higher depersonalisation indicating more withdrawal and cynicism. Working overtime, medication supply and patient incivility were reported to affect work. Conclusion Pharmacists are experiencing burnout, with work and psychosocial factors affecting them during COVID-19. Knowledge of this and that males experience more depersonalisation is valuable to inform advocacy and interventions to support pharmacists.