Kate L Lapane1, Carmel M Hughes. 1. Department of Community Health, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA. Kate_Lapane@brown.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To provide normative information regarding levels of job satisfaction and stress between consulting and dispensing pharmacists in the long-term care arena. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: All current members of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists as of March 2005. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Health Professional Stress Inventory. RESULTS: More than 90% of consultant pharmacists were satisfied with their jobs. The most frequently reported source of stress among the pharmacists was short staffing, affecting their ability to perform their duties. More than one-third of dispensing pharmacists were often stressed, frequently because of the need to keep up with developments to maintain professional competence. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists serving the long-term care sector are very satisfied. Methods to assist dispensing pharmacists to keep up with practice developments must be explored. Whether or not new models of long-term care pharmacy improve job satisfaction must be explored.
OBJECTIVE: To provide normative information regarding levels of job satisfaction and stress between consulting and dispensing pharmacists in the long-term care arena. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: All current members of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists as of March 2005. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Health Professional Stress Inventory. RESULTS: More than 90% of consultant pharmacists were satisfied with their jobs. The most frequently reported source of stress among the pharmacists was short staffing, affecting their ability to perform their duties. More than one-third of dispensing pharmacists were often stressed, frequently because of the need to keep up with developments to maintain professional competence. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists serving the long-term care sector are very satisfied. Methods to assist dispensing pharmacists to keep up with practice developments must be explored. Whether or not new models of long-term care pharmacy improve job satisfaction must be explored.