Identifying and Addressing Pharmacist Burnout

Every day, pharmacists all over the country dedicate themselves to delivering quality health care to their patients. To do so, it is important that pharmacists also take care of themselves and support their own health and well-being.

In December 2021, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) released a statement about pharmacist burnout and their plans to address this issue.¹ In the press release, the APhA highlighted the core causes of pharmacist burnout, the significance of overall well-being, and the need to address pharmacist burnout which could impact patient safety. They also noted pharmacist burnout has been brewing for some time and the extra stress and workload of the COVID-19 pandemic brought the issue to the forefront.¹

In a recent publication, researchers sought to measure burnout and describe the work and psychosocial factors affecting pharmacists during COVID-19. Findings from the study revealed pharmacists experienced burnout during the pandemic, and burnout was correlated with absenteeism, leaving the profession, self-reported errors, and reduced patient care.² Researchers also found the pandemic altered daily routine and work practices for pharmacists with many working overtime, experiencing an expanded workload, and working with a diminished number of staff members.²

Findings from another survey published in a 2018 issue of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy revealed 53% of pharmacists self-reported an elevated degree of burnout as a result of increased stress and work demands.³ Other findings showed 36% of pharmacists reported emotional exhaustion, 32% expressed decreased personal accomplishment, and 55% were unaware of available well-being resources.³

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) announced its organization was awarded a grant totaling $2.3 million over the next 3 years to create an educational program to reduce burnout in the pharmacy profession and health care overall.

In a recent article,⁴ Anna Legreid Dopp, PharmD, senior director of Clinical Guidelines and Quality Improvement, ASHP, said:

“We know more needs to be done, and that’s why we’re so excited because this grant will allow us to do more to support the pharmacy workforce and those they work for in their practices.”⁴

“At its core we see burnout as a patient-care problem. If your clinician is experiencing burnout, then patient care might be at risk. We’re all about caring for the patient while recognizing that the pharmacy workforce is a critical part of the interprofessional health care team. Siloed approaches on this are short-sighted so we need to look at this across all disciplines and to support the entire health care workforce.”⁴

In my conversations with other pharmacists and health care workers, many have expressed feelings of burnout because of excessive workloads due to understaffing, long hours, and having some days without a break. Many have also expressed feelings of extreme stress.

The APhA indicates that burnout among health care professionals can lead to dissatisfaction with one’s job, distractions while working, and a reduced commitment. As a result, there may be increased errors that could impact patient care, such as medication errors and errors affecting patient education.⁵

While the duties of pharmacists are never ending and many days are fast paced and nonstop, it is important that pharmacists take time out each day to address their own well-being, so they can continue to provide the best quality of care to their patients. It is essential for pharmacists and other health care workers to have a strong support system and incorporate destressing and relaxation techniques into the daily routine when possible.

To my fellow pharmacists, you are a valuable resource to all your patients, and your well-being matters too.

The ASHP website has some excellent resources that all pharmacists can use to promote overall well-being, such as those at https://wellbeing.ashp.org/resources and https://www.pharmacist.com/Advocacy/Well-Being-and-Resiliency/Well-Being-Resources.

Another excellent resource is “The Pharmacist’s Guide to Recognizing and Preventing Burnout” by the APhA: https://www.pharmacist.com/Publications/Transitions/the-pharmacists-guide-to-recognizing-and-preventing-burnout

References:

1. APhA: Pharmacist burnout hits breaking point, impacting patient safety. American Pharmacists Association. Published December 17, 2021. Accessed March 21, 2022. https://pharmacist.com/APhA-Press-Releases/apha-pharmacist-burnout-hits-breaking-point-impacting-patient-safety
2. Johnston K, O'Reilly CL, Scholz B, Georgousopoulou EN, Mitchell I. Burnout and the challenges facing pharmacists during COVID-19: results of a national survey. Int J Clin Pharm. 2021;43(3):716-725. doi:10.1007/s11096-021-01268-5
3. Durham ME, Bush PW, Ball AM. Evidence of burnout in health-system pharmacists. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2018;75(23 Supplement 4):S93-S100. doi:10.2146/ajhp170818
4. Doolittle D. ASHP receives federal funds to address burnout. Pharmacy Practice News. Published March 8, 2022. Accessed March 22, 2022. https://www.pharmacypracticenews.com/Operations-and-Management/Article/03-22/ASHP-Receives-Federal-Funds-to-Address-Burnout/66384
5. English T. The pharmacist’s guide to recognizing and preventing burnout. American Pharmacists Association. Published July 30, 2021. Accessed March 22, 2022. https://www.pharmacist.com/Publications/Transitions/the-pharmacists-guide-to-recognizing-and-preventing-burnout