Tristan A Lindfelt1, Eric J Ip2, Mitchell J Barnett2. 1. Tristan A. Lindfelt, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACP, is Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Residency Program Director; Eric J. Ip, Pharm.D., BCPS, CSCS, CDE, FCSH P, is Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Department Chair; and Mitchell J. Barnett, Pharm.D., M.S., is Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Touro University California College of Pharmacy, Vallejo. tristan.lindfelt@tu.edu. 2. Tristan A. Lindfelt, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACP, is Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Residency Program Director; Eric J. Ip, Pharm.D., BCPS, CSCS, CDE, FCSH P, is Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Department Chair; and Mitchell J. Barnett, Pharm.D., M.S., is Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Touro University California College of Pharmacy, Vallejo.
Abstract
PURPOSE: U.S. pharmacy school faculty were surveyed to assess their career satisfaction, lifestyle, and stress levels. METHODS: A 48-item survey, administered through Qualtrics (Provo, UT), was sent to current members of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and included questions regarding respondents' academic institution and appointment status; lifestyle traits; career satisfaction; work-life balance; neurologic and psychiatric diagnoses; use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco; and stress levels. RESULTS: of the 4787 faculty invited to participate in the survey, 811 usable surveys were collected (16.9% response rate). Nearly all respondents (95.0%) reported working 40 or more hours per week. The majority had an average daily one-way commute of less than 30 minutes (64.2%), slept 5.5-7.5 hours per night (74.8%), and exercised for no more than 120 minutes per week (61.8%). A majority of respondents (63.7%) reported being very or extremely satisfied with their current position in academia. Only 36.9% reported being very or extremely satisfied with their work-life balance. Mean perceived stress scores were near those found in the general adult population. Although most respondents reported seeing a primary care provider and dentist annually, other findings regarding preventive health measures were not as encouraging. CONCLUSION: A survey of pharmacy faculty in the United States revealed high levels of job satisfaction among respondents, but lower levels of satisfaction with work-life balance and comparable levels of stress to the general population were found. Administrators and stakeholders should explore options to improve lifestyle factors to decrease potential burnout among faculty.
PURPOSE: U.S. pharmacy school faculty were surveyed to assess their career satisfaction, lifestyle, and stress levels. METHODS: A 48-item survey, administered through Qualtrics (Provo, UT), was sent to current members of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and included questions regarding respondents' academic institution and appointment status; lifestyle traits; career satisfaction; work-life balance; neurologic and psychiatric diagnoses; use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco; and stress levels. RESULTS: of the 4787 faculty invited to participate in the survey, 811 usable surveys were collected (16.9% response rate). Nearly all respondents (95.0%) reported working 40 or more hours per week. The majority had an average daily one-way commute of less than 30 minutes (64.2%), slept 5.5-7.5 hours per night (74.8%), and exercised for no more than 120 minutes per week (61.8%). A majority of respondents (63.7%) reported being very or extremely satisfied with their current position in academia. Only 36.9% reported being very or extremely satisfied with their work-life balance. Mean perceived stress scores were near those found in the general adult population. Although most respondents reported seeing a primary care provider and dentist annually, other findings regarding preventive health measures were not as encouraging. CONCLUSION: A survey of pharmacy faculty in the United States revealed high levels of job satisfaction among respondents, but lower levels of satisfaction with work-life balance and comparable levels of stress to the general population were found. Administrators and stakeholders should explore options to improve lifestyle factors to decrease potential burnout among faculty.