Everything is fine. Everything’s not fine. Okay, let’s dig into it — pharmacists are reportedly less stressed now? The Well-Being Index 2023 Report suggests a decrease in overall pharmacist distress since before the pandemic.
The report, based on over 2,500 pharmacist assessments, shows a significant drop in average distress levels from 3.25 in 2019 to 2.59 in 2023. This statistic raises questions: who was surveyed? Were they from various sectors? While the pandemic’s impact on stress levels seems counterintuitive, the data suggests a notable trend.
Since October 2021, the Pharmacy Workplace and Well-Being Reporting Portal has received over 1,300 reports. This initiative, by APhA and NASPA, highlights systemic workplace issues contributing to pharmacist burnout. It challenges the notion that burnout is solely an individual’s issue, emphasizing the environment’s role in job satisfaction.
Age-related insights reveal near-retirement pharmacists report high fulfillment, while millennials face the highest distress levels. Sector-specific breakdowns show community pharmacists experience the highest distress rates, particularly in chain settings. In contrast, pharmacists in specialty sectors report higher job satisfaction.
Staff shortages since 2021 emerge as a primary stressor. Despite record profits, companies underinvest in staffing, leading to overworked pharmacists. Nearly a quarter exceed contracted hours, highlighting a persistent imbalance between workload and resources.
The report’s findings underscore a critical need for industry-wide reforms to prioritize pharmacist well-being. As healthcare shifts focus from burnout to overall well-being, unionization efforts, such as those at CVS and Walgreens, reflect growing demands for better working conditions.
Looking ahead, the entry-level job market for pharmacists is fraught with challenges. Retail chains offer substantial sign-on bonuses to attract candidates, indicative of a shortage not in pharmacists but in those willing to endure high-stress environments for current salaries.
While the Well-Being Index’s findings are enlightening, questions linger. Does reduced distress during the pandemic reflect changing workplace dynamics or survey timing? Further exploration of the data and methodologies could provide clarity on these trends.
Alex is the Founder of The Happy PharmD. He loves anime, his family, and video games, but not in that order.