New report reveals pharmacist stress factors

THE Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS) has released a new report on the stress and wellbeing of pharmacists, interns and pharmacy students, with the document outlined to a group of industry leaders earlier this month.

The Australian-first study was funded by the Pharmacy Board of Australia and conducted by Emeritus Professor Colin Chapman together with Master Research Australasia and the Pharmacists’ Support Service.

Participants reported higher stress levels than the general population, with those aged under 30 and with less than ten years experience reporting the most stress.

While almost half (45%) of the respondents were satisfied with their professional role as a pharmacist and with their workplace environment (42%), only 30% of the pharmacists were satisfied with their workload.

Half of the respondents had observed behaviours in other pharmacists that “depart from accepted professional standards” while 26% reported they were “expected to practice as a pharmacist in a manner which is a departure from accepted professional standards and this causes them to feel stressed”.

Barriers to seeking help in relation to stress and workplace issues included fears of reprisal, stigma and of feeling intimidated or embarrassed - while job security was also a key factor for some.

Even though members of the pharmacy workforce have ready access to substances that may be abused, there appeared to be very low prevalence of this “maladaptive coping behaviour” and the same applied to the use of alcohol.

A range of intervention strategies suggested the inclusion of coping techniques in pharmacy education programs, and an emphasis on barriers to seeking help when stressful situations arise.

Pictured above at the forum at which the findings were released are, from left: John Jackson, Monash University; Gillian Swinnerton, PSS; PSA president Shane Jackson; SHPA ceo Kristen Michaels; Pharmacy Guild president George Tambassis; John Coppock, PSS president; Kay Dunkley, PSS executive officer; Professor Colin Chapman, Monash University; Jacki Baulch, Professional Pharmacists Australia; Θ Sally Wilson and David Wilson, Master Research Australia.