General wellbeing and work impacts among community pharmacists during crisis management.

BACKGROUND: Community pharmacists are highly accessible for advice, as most pharmacies are open long hours and no appointment is needed. Community pharmacists, as essential community health workers, play a critical role in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine the general wellbeing and work impacts of pharmacists and the factors important for adaptability and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This study adopted a cross-sectional design. Community pharmacists from various professional networks in Australia were invited through emails and social media posts to complete an anonymous online survey during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, Australia. RESULTS: Sixty-five community pharmacists completed the online survey. The respondents reported fair levels of general wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a mean self-related health score of 33.57 (s.d.=13.19) out of a maximal of 96, despite relatively high levels of job stress and emotional labour. Lower levels of general wellbeing were correlated with higher levels of job stress (r=0.645, P<0.01) and emotional labour (r=0.513, P<0.01), and lower levels of occupational self-efficacy (r=-0.566, P<0.01). Leader member exchange was negatively correlated with job stress (r=-0.419, P<0.01) and positively correlated with psychological safety (r=0.693, P<0.01). The linear regression models showed that female pharmacists had lower occupational self-efficacy (ß=-0.286, P=0.024), but higher psychological safety (ß=0.234, P=0.042). Higher work ability was associated with lower job stress (ß=-0.529, P<0.001), higher occupational self-efficacy (ß=0.511, P=0.001), and poorer self-related health (ß=-0.659, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of a supportive work environment in helping community pharmacists to feel psychologically safe and reduce stress during a crisis.

Challenges of evidence synthesis during the 2020 COVID pandemic: a scoping review.

AIM: The objectives of this scoping review are to identify the challenges to conducting evidence synthesis during the COVID-19 pandemic and to propose some recommendations addressing the identified gaps. METHODS: A scoping review methodology was followed to map the literature published on the challenges and solutions of conducting evidence synthesis using the Joanna Briggs Methodology of performing scoping review. We searched several databases from the start of the Pandemic in December 2019 until 10th June 2021. RESULTS: A total of 28 publications was included in the review. The challenges cited in the included studies have been categorised into four distinct but interconnected themes including: upstream, Evidence synthesis, downstream and contextual challenges. These challenges have been further refined into issues with primary studies, databases, team capacity, process, resources, and context. Several proposals to improve the above challenges included: transparency in primary studies registration and reporting, establishment of online platforms that enables collaboration, data sharing and searching, the use of computable evidence and coordination of efforts at an international level. CONCLUSION: This review has highlighted the importance of including artificial intelligence, a framework for international collaboration and a sustained funding model to address many of the shortcomings and ensure we are ready for similar challenges in the future.