Coping with the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study of community pharmacists from Serbia

Abstract

Background Rapid spread of COVID-19 forced the public to turn to community pharmacies as the most accessible points of primary healthcare, overloading pharmacy services. The objectives of this research were to detect and describe the changes in work environment of community pharmacists in Vojvodina during the state of emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic effects on job related stress were assessed. Methods Community pharmacists from Vojvodina completed an online questionnaire on work environment changes related to COVID-19 (cross-sectional study). Results Out of the 1574 licenced pharmacists in Vojvodina, 392 completed the survey. Workload increase, reported by 90.8% of pharmacists, was caused mostly by higher demand for safety equipment, antiseptics and disinfectants, dietary products and medicines. Most pharmacists (93.1%) considered pharmacy workflow to be more complex than before the pandemic. Clients’ behavior was described as less pleasant since the start of the pandemic by 67.6% of the community pharmacists. Many were concerned for their health and the health of their families (68.9%). Community pharmacists rated their stress levels higher if they i) were working in larger chains, ii) experienced clients’ behavior as less pleasant or/and iii) were concerned for their/their family health. Conclusions Current research pointed out the need for a more robust healthcare system which would allow rapid introduction of new activities and roles for community pharmacists that could possibly decrease job-related stress. Legal steps to improve the work environment in community pharmacies are necessary and urgent in order to fully utilize their skills and knowledge.

Use of the job demands-resource model to understand community pharmacists’ burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Indeed, these findings are in line with those of community pharmacists in other countries who experienced burnout due to urgent and high demand for consumables, prescription medications and counselling. 44 Low number of staff was highlighted in this study as a major contributor to job demands in line with a study of hospital HCPs' burnout during the pandemic. 45 Precautionary measures, telepharmacy and increased management of patients' medical conditions increased role ambiguity which in turn is known to be an antecedent of burnout.…”

“We face the same risk as the other health workers”: Perceptions and experiences of community pharmacists in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…While this has been a global challenge also affecting doctors and nurses [33], it has been particularly acute in low-and middle-income countries, like Indonesia, where supply chains are more vulnerable to fluctuations in the availability of imported products and raw materials [34]. Similar to findings in Serbia [5] and Ethiopia [35], some pharmacists were PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH worried about the lack of face masks for their personal use and safety. Participants also noted that these supply disruptions led to steep price increases especially for vitamins and face masks, as found in other countries [6,36].…”

“…In performing these activities however, community pharmacists may face a high risk of contracting the virus due to prolonged contact in the workplace with clients and colleagues, who may be infected [4]. Further, they can experience additional challenges due to lockdown measures and shortages of medicines and other supplies such as PPE [5,6].…”

The role of pharmacists in crisis management and humanitarian missions: Current state and perspectives

“…Potencijal farmaceuta u upravljanju hroničnom terapijom i sprovođenju procesa imunizacije, iako prepoznat od strane stručne javnosti, još uvek nije utilizovan i zakonski regulisan. 57 Podrška i obezbeđivanje adekvatnih resursa i alata zdravstvenim profesionalcima, koji im omogućavaju da brinu o ličnoj mentalnoj i fizičkoj dobrobiti, kada intenzivno i posvećeno rade na zadovoljavanju zdravstvenih potreba svojih zajednica, od esencijalne je važnosti za funkcionisanje i opstanak svakog zdravstvenog sistema u aktuelnoj krizi. 36…”