LETTERS
Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: A profession in jeopardy? Response to Munger et al. Munger et al.1 evaluated occupational satisfaction and stress among community pharmacists. The 303 respondents reported a great level of dissatisfaction with the highest levels in those with doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degrees and those employed by a community chain pharmacy. The most satisfied and least stressed pharmacists were older, predominately male, experienced pharmacists working in independent settings. The authors expressed concern for the future of the profession and encouraged redefinition of the profession of community pharmacy. In response, we provide job satisfaction data from the Partner for Promotion (PFP) program.2 Pharmacists engaged in this program at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy complete annual surveys to evaluate job satisfaction using a four-item validated instrument.3 Results from 2010 to 2013 showed generally more satisfied pharmacists compared with that reported by Munger et al. (Table 1). PFP pharmacist respondents had similar overall demographics, including a range of less experienced to end-of-career pharmacists, a mix of PharmD and bachelor of pharmacy degrees, and a variety of practice settings (national and regional chains [n = 7], supermarkets [n = 12], mass merchandise stores [n = 2], or independent pharmacies [n = 5]). This difference in job satisfaction between the PFP data and the results of Munger et al. fuels a conversation regarding differences in populations. In particular, details regarding the demographics of the population’s worksite in Munger et al. would be helpful. Of 303 respondents, how many were employed by companies that supported and engaged their pharmacists in 6 JAPhA | 5 4 : 1 | JAN/F EB 2014
Table 1. Job satisfaction for pharmacists involved in the Partner for Promotion program Statement All things considered, I am satisfied with my current job. The idea of spending the remainder of my working life in a job like my current one is depressing. I often leave work with a “bad” feeling that I am doing something which I do not enjoy. I often get so wrapped up (interested) in my work that I lose track of time.
Program survey (n = 26) Meana 4.35 1.96 1.65 3.65
Five-point Likert-type scale (from 1, strongly disagree, to 5, strongly agree).
a
medication therapy management (MTM) or other patient-centered endeavors? For which pharmacies and where did these respondents work? No information is provided beyond the title of chain versus independent, and we hypothesize that differences in satisfaction may exist between companies and geographic regions. Although the authors reported that “direct patient care activities were associated with higher levels of satisfaction and less stress,” they did not state how many respondents actually engage in direct patient care in their current position or quantify the dedicated time per week. Because this information is missing, an assessment of whether the characteristics of exposure and involvement in direct patient care affected satisfaction or stress levels is not possible. For the PFP data, the pharmacists (most of whom practiced in Ohio) were involved in a program that linked them with a college of pharmacy and students longitudinally to develop and implement new patient care services. These pharmacists had support from management, which was evidenced through their involvement in the program. The PFP program highlights a way to provide opportunities for pharmacists to gain ownership of their work and empower them to impact patient care through conceiving and acting on a vision to implement a patient care service. Munger et al. noted one element of individual personal fulfillment goals is “encouragement toward ja p h a .org
creativity of clinical services.” The PFP program accomplishes this and may be a model for ways to improve satisfaction among community pharmacists. Dissatisfaction does exist in community pharmacy. We suggest caution in categorizing individuals into segments and generalizing professionwide satisfaction with a limited sample of pharmacists who received financial compensation for completing a survey. We call attention to community pharmacists who are satisfied with their career, even if they are a minority. These pharmacists engage in programs and opportunities to better themselves and more effectively serve their patients, such as community pharmacy residency programs, the PFP program, and other advocacy endeavors, including pushing for provider status and extending the impact of MTM. These are the individuals who should be targeted for student engagement through internships and student rotations. They can be advocates for change and encourage the next generation of change agents to join the reinvention of community pharmacy practice. We encourage the profession not to be discouraged by the results of Munger et al. but instead challenged to support those with a vision for community pharmacy– driven patient care. Jennifer L. Rodis, PharmD, BCPS Associate Professor of Pharmacy College of Pharmacy Ohio State University Columbus [email protected]
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
LETTERS
Timothy R. Ulbrich, PharmD Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice College of Pharmacy Northeast Ohio Medical University Rootstown doi: 10.1331/JAPhA.2014.13156
References 1. Munger MA, Gordon E, Hartman J, et al. Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: a profession in jeopardy? J Am Pharm Assoc. 2013;53(3):282– 96. 2. Rodis JL, Legg JE, Casper KA. Partner for Promotion: an innovative advanced community pharmacy practice experience. Am J Pharm Educ. 2009;72(6):134–42. 3. Barnett CW, Kimberlin CL. Development and validation of an instrument to measure pharmacists’ satisfaction with their jobs and careers. Am J Pharm Educ. 1986;50(1):5–14.
Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: A profession in jeopardy? Response to Rodis and Ulbrich Rodis and Ulbrich1 raise the importance of providing clinical pharmacy services, namely medication therapy management, to reducing stress and improving satisfaction in community pharmacy practice. They site Rodis et al.,2 a community (i.e., mostly in Ohio) intervention trial designed to test the development and imple-
mentation of new patient care services in 27 students and 22 preceptors to reinforce their perspective. Our study was a national, descriptive, nonexperimental design of 300 independent and community chain pharmacists who were actively practicing, examined through an 88-item battery of statements adapted from a reliable and validated instrument.3 Of important note, the methodologies of our study and that of Rodis et al., were very different, making it challenging to meaningfully contrast the results from one to the other. Our study unequivocally demonstrated that substantive levels of occupation dissatisfaction and stress exist in community practice across the country. This is a position on which Rodis and Ulbrich1 agree with us, as they state, “Dissatisfaction does exist in community pharmacy.” Our results also support their contention that a “minority” of pharmacists are satisfied with their career paths. We agree with the concept advocated by Rodis and Ulbrich1: that the provision of patient-centered services, including medication therapy management, may result in higher levels of satisfaction and less stress.3 The importance of providing patient-centered services must be done
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
j apha.org
in the context of stable or expanding income with comprehensive education initiatives; the latter point was demonstrated by Rodis et al.2 It is important to note that our conclusion and the final statement of Rodis and Ulbrich1 both call for vision toward improving current community pharmacy practice toward “creativity of clinical services.”3 Mark A. Munger, PharmD Professor College of Pharmacy University of Utah Salt Lake City [email protected] Mike Feehan, PhD CEO Observant LLC Waltham, MA doi: 10.1331/JAPhA.2014.13183
References 1. Rodis JL, Ulbrich TR. Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: a profession in jeopardy? Response to Munger et al. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2014:54(1):6–7. 2. Rodis JL, Legg JE, Casper KA. Partner for Promotion: an innovative advanced community pharmacy practice experience. Am J Pharm Educ. 2009;72(6):134–42. 3. Munger MA, Gordon E, Hartman J, et al. Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: a profession in jeopardy? J Am Pharm Assoc. 2013;53(3):282– 96.
JAN /FEB 2014 | 54:1 |
JAPhA 7
Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: A profession in jeopardy? Response to Munger et al. Munger et al.1 evaluated occupational satisfaction and stress among community pharmacists. The 303 respondents reported a great level of dissatisfaction with the highest levels in those with doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degrees and those employed by a community chain pharmacy. The most satisfied and least stressed pharmacists were older, predominately male, experienced pharmacists working in independent settings. The authors expressed concern for the future of the profession and encouraged redefinition of the profession of community pharmacy. In response, we provide job satisfaction data from the Partner for Promotion (PFP) program.2 Pharmacists engaged in this program at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy complete annual surveys to evaluate job satisfaction using a four-item validated instrument.3 Results from 2010 to 2013 showed generally more satisfied pharmacists compared with that reported by Munger et al. (Table 1). PFP pharmacist respondents had similar overall demographics, including a range of less experienced to end-of-career pharmacists, a mix of PharmD and bachelor of pharmacy degrees, and a variety of practice settings (national and regional chains [n = 7], supermarkets [n = 12], mass merchandise stores [n = 2], or independent pharmacies [n = 5]). This difference in job satisfaction between the PFP data and the results of Munger et al. fuels a conversation regarding differences in populations. In particular, details regarding the demographics of the population’s worksite in Munger et al. would be helpful. Of 303 respondents, how many were employed by companies that supported and engaged their pharmacists in 6 JAPhA | 5 4 : 1 | JAN/F EB 2014
Table 1. Job satisfaction for pharmacists involved in the Partner for Promotion program Statement All things considered, I am satisfied with my current job. The idea of spending the remainder of my working life in a job like my current one is depressing. I often leave work with a “bad” feeling that I am doing something which I do not enjoy. I often get so wrapped up (interested) in my work that I lose track of time.
Program survey (n = 26) Meana 4.35 1.96 1.65 3.65
Five-point Likert-type scale (from 1, strongly disagree, to 5, strongly agree).
a
medication therapy management (MTM) or other patient-centered endeavors? For which pharmacies and where did these respondents work? No information is provided beyond the title of chain versus independent, and we hypothesize that differences in satisfaction may exist between companies and geographic regions. Although the authors reported that “direct patient care activities were associated with higher levels of satisfaction and less stress,” they did not state how many respondents actually engage in direct patient care in their current position or quantify the dedicated time per week. Because this information is missing, an assessment of whether the characteristics of exposure and involvement in direct patient care affected satisfaction or stress levels is not possible. For the PFP data, the pharmacists (most of whom practiced in Ohio) were involved in a program that linked them with a college of pharmacy and students longitudinally to develop and implement new patient care services. These pharmacists had support from management, which was evidenced through their involvement in the program. The PFP program highlights a way to provide opportunities for pharmacists to gain ownership of their work and empower them to impact patient care through conceiving and acting on a vision to implement a patient care service. Munger et al. noted one element of individual personal fulfillment goals is “encouragement toward ja p h a .org
creativity of clinical services.” The PFP program accomplishes this and may be a model for ways to improve satisfaction among community pharmacists. Dissatisfaction does exist in community pharmacy. We suggest caution in categorizing individuals into segments and generalizing professionwide satisfaction with a limited sample of pharmacists who received financial compensation for completing a survey. We call attention to community pharmacists who are satisfied with their career, even if they are a minority. These pharmacists engage in programs and opportunities to better themselves and more effectively serve their patients, such as community pharmacy residency programs, the PFP program, and other advocacy endeavors, including pushing for provider status and extending the impact of MTM. These are the individuals who should be targeted for student engagement through internships and student rotations. They can be advocates for change and encourage the next generation of change agents to join the reinvention of community pharmacy practice. We encourage the profession not to be discouraged by the results of Munger et al. but instead challenged to support those with a vision for community pharmacy– driven patient care. Jennifer L. Rodis, PharmD, BCPS Associate Professor of Pharmacy College of Pharmacy Ohio State University Columbus [email protected]
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
LETTERS
Timothy R. Ulbrich, PharmD Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice College of Pharmacy Northeast Ohio Medical University Rootstown doi: 10.1331/JAPhA.2014.13156
References 1. Munger MA, Gordon E, Hartman J, et al. Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: a profession in jeopardy? J Am Pharm Assoc. 2013;53(3):282– 96. 2. Rodis JL, Legg JE, Casper KA. Partner for Promotion: an innovative advanced community pharmacy practice experience. Am J Pharm Educ. 2009;72(6):134–42. 3. Barnett CW, Kimberlin CL. Development and validation of an instrument to measure pharmacists’ satisfaction with their jobs and careers. Am J Pharm Educ. 1986;50(1):5–14.
Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: A profession in jeopardy? Response to Rodis and Ulbrich Rodis and Ulbrich1 raise the importance of providing clinical pharmacy services, namely medication therapy management, to reducing stress and improving satisfaction in community pharmacy practice. They site Rodis et al.,2 a community (i.e., mostly in Ohio) intervention trial designed to test the development and imple-
mentation of new patient care services in 27 students and 22 preceptors to reinforce their perspective. Our study was a national, descriptive, nonexperimental design of 300 independent and community chain pharmacists who were actively practicing, examined through an 88-item battery of statements adapted from a reliable and validated instrument.3 Of important note, the methodologies of our study and that of Rodis et al., were very different, making it challenging to meaningfully contrast the results from one to the other. Our study unequivocally demonstrated that substantive levels of occupation dissatisfaction and stress exist in community practice across the country. This is a position on which Rodis and Ulbrich1 agree with us, as they state, “Dissatisfaction does exist in community pharmacy.” Our results also support their contention that a “minority” of pharmacists are satisfied with their career paths. We agree with the concept advocated by Rodis and Ulbrich1: that the provision of patient-centered services, including medication therapy management, may result in higher levels of satisfaction and less stress.3 The importance of providing patient-centered services must be done
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
j apha.org
in the context of stable or expanding income with comprehensive education initiatives; the latter point was demonstrated by Rodis et al.2 It is important to note that our conclusion and the final statement of Rodis and Ulbrich1 both call for vision toward improving current community pharmacy practice toward “creativity of clinical services.”3 Mark A. Munger, PharmD Professor College of Pharmacy University of Utah Salt Lake City [email protected] Mike Feehan, PhD CEO Observant LLC Waltham, MA doi: 10.1331/JAPhA.2014.13183
References 1. Rodis JL, Ulbrich TR. Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: a profession in jeopardy? Response to Munger et al. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2014:54(1):6–7. 2. Rodis JL, Legg JE, Casper KA. Partner for Promotion: an innovative advanced community pharmacy practice experience. Am J Pharm Educ. 2009;72(6):134–42. 3. Munger MA, Gordon E, Hartman J, et al. Community pharmacists’ occupational satisfaction and stress: a profession in jeopardy? J Am Pharm Assoc. 2013;53(3):282– 96.
JAN /FEB 2014 | 54:1 |
JAPhA 7
