Understanding burnout in Australian pharmacists during COVID-19
Creators: name: Johnston, Karlee
Publisher: name: The Australian National University
Year: 2023

description: Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated considerable changes to the delivery of healthcare, and the provisions of medicines management. Pharmacists have continued to provide in-person healthcare during the pandemic despite increasing challenges and psychological burden. The negative impacts of the pandemic on healthcare professionals are concerning, with burnout common in healthcare professionals. Burnout is associated with negative impacts on individuals, health consumers and healthcare organisations, and is a concerning problem. Aim: To understand burnout in Australian pharmacists during COVID-19 and to explore the effects of the pandemic on pharmacists professionally and personally. Objectives: 1. To measure burnout scores in Australian pharmacists during COVID-19. 2. To determine the work-related factors affecting pharmacists during COVID-19. 3. To determine the psychosocial factors affecting pharmacists during COVID-19. 4. To investigate 'profiles' of pharmacists at risk of burnout to identify pharmacists at risk of burnout and possible intervention target(s). 5. To explore which factors pharmacists report as important in their experiences working during COVID-19. Methods: An online survey was distributed to a convenience sample of pharmacists practicing in any setting in Australia during April and June 2020. The survey collected demographic data, burnout scores using the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and psychosocial and work-related variables using questions adapted from previous surveys. Results: Overall, 647 completed survey responses were received and analysed. Most participants were female n=487 (75.7%) with hospital n=269 (42.2%) and community n=253 (39.9%) pharmacists well represented. Australian pharmacists reported a high level of burnout, with males reporting higher scores in the burnout domain of depersonalisation indicating more withdrawal and cynicism. Working overtime, medication supply and patient incivility affected pharmacists work during this time. Within the cohort, pharmacists could be categorised into two distinct and very different pharmacist profiles describing different experiences. One profile (representing 53.1% of participants) describes the "affected" pharmacist, who has a high degree of burnout, works in community pharmacy, experiences incivility, is less likely to report sufficient precautionary measures in their workplace, and has had an increase in workload and overtime. In contrast, then other profile (representing 46.9% of participants) describes the "business as usual" pharmacist profile of a hospital pharmacist with the opposite experiences. Pharmacists have described an increase in demands coupled with a decreased availability of resources during COVID-19. High demands such as an increased workload, providing support to the community, and taking on roles traditionally performed by others were worsened by a lack of resources including not feeling supported and valued, inadequate training, and a lack of clear and consistent communication, and recovery time. Conclusion: Pharmacists working during the COVID-19 pandemic have experienced burnout, with an increase in workplace demands including managing medication supply and concern for their own health and the health of their families. Community pharmacists have been particularly affected during this time with poor consumer behaviour, and a lack of consistent access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In order to cope with increasing demands, adequate resources are crucial, and targeted interventions aimed at increasing pharmacist resources should be prioritised. More research is required to understand the experience of burnout, and the impact of interventions on individual, patient and organisational outcomes.