ABSTRACT
Background: Inadequate staffing, increased responsibilities and a high workload are some of the factors that are directly related to stress levels experienced by pharmacists, which in turn affect job satisfaction. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess job satisfaction and stress levels of pharmacists in Cyprus, involving those working in the public and private sector. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed which involved the completion of the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) questionnaire to estimate job satisfaction, and the Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) questionnaire to evaluate perceived stress. Data collection took place between January and March 2020 and the participation rate was 71.6% (n = 585). Results: Employees in private pharmacies overall reported higher levels of job satisfaction compared to public sector pharmacists. Public sector pharmacists were found to have stronger self-efficacy beliefs compared to other groups (p < 0.001). Female pharmacists had a higher average level of perceived helplessness than male pharmacists (p = 0.001). Regarding public sector pharmacists, it was generally observed that pharmacists working under the management of the Ministry of Health (MoH) had reduced job satisfaction than those working for other organizations. Additionally, pharmacists working under the management of the State Health Services Organization (SHSO) had the least overall perceived stress levels (p = 0.008), high self-efficacy beliefs (p = 0.006) and low perceived helplessness (p = 0.031) compared to pharmacists in other workplaces. Employees of private pharmacies were found to have higher levels of job satisfaction (p < 0.001) than SHSO pharmacists. However, those employees demonstrated increased perceived stress levels (p < 0.001) in comparison with SHSO pharmacists. Conclusions: Pharmacists' job satisfaction is negatively correlated with perceived stress levels and helplessness, and positively correlated with self-efficacy beliefs. In the public sector, it seems that a re-evaluation is critical regarding the determinants that adversely influence job satisfaction amongst pharmacists.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the mental health of Cypriot citizens living in the current difficult period of economic recession. The specific objective was to investigate the different factors (gender, age, socio-economic factors, etc.) that may affect the levels of emotional distress, anxiety, and depression in patients attending the Rural Health Centre of Kofinou. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of a total of 300 Cypriots who visited Kofinou Health Centre in the period between July and September 2015. For the middle-aged citizens, the Greek version of the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) was applied to 150 persons [1], while for the visiting senior citizens (aged over 65 years), the Greek version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used [2]. Results: HADS: A total of 150 people of average age 47 ± 11.5 years (min 23-max 64) participated in the study. Fifty-six percent were women. Seventy-seven percent stated they had a reduction in income (mean reduction 35% ± 25%) and 46.7% suffered from chronic disease. The 36.6% and 28.7% of the visitors showed moderate or severe forms of anxiety and depression, accordingly. Higher emotional distress is associated with lower educational level (b = -2.63, p < 0.001), lower income (b = -1.07, p = 0.017), and the presence of a chronic disease (b = 5.45, p < 0.001). The same factors are significantly associated with higher anxiety (Education: b = -1.20, p = 0.003; Income: b = -0.64, p = 0.01; Chronic disease: b = 2.82, p = 0.001). Additionally, a reduction in income (>35%) is associated with increased depression (p = 0.028). GDS: 150 patients out of which 77 were women (51.3%). The average age of participants was 72 ± 5.5 years. Ninety-three (62%) participants declared a reduction in income due to the financial crisis (mean reduction 20% ± 8%), while 139 (92.7%) stated that they had chronic disease. Fifty-three participants (35.3%) thought they had symptoms of depression after the economic crisis. The women showed higher level of geriatric depression symptoms than men (b = -1.96, p = 0.005), while age is associated with higher levels of GDS (b = 0.16, p = 0.006). Conclusions: The study shows that stress levels, depression, and emotional distress are increased in specific population groups. The main variables associated with the mental health of the participants are the presence of a chronic disease, income, and level of education.
