The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy personnel in primary care

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted healthcare worldwide. It has altered service delivery and posed challenges to practitioners in relation to workload, well-being and support. Within primary care, changes in physicians’ activities have been identified and innovative work solutions implemented. However, evidence is lacking regarding the impact of the pandemic on pharmacy personnel who work in primary care. Aim: To explore the impact of the pandemic on the working practice (including the type of services provided) and job satisfaction of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians within Scottish general practice. Due to the stressful nature of the pandemic, we hypothesise that job satisfaction will have been negatively affected. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed in May–July 2021, approximately 15 months since initial lockdown measures in the UK. The questionnaire was informed by previous literature and underwent expert review and piloting. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, non-parametric statistical tests and thematic analysis. Results: 180 participants responded (approximated 16.1% response rate): 134 pharmacists (74.4%) and 46 technicians (25.6%). Responses indicated greater involvement with administrative tasks and a reduction in the provision of clinical services, which was negatively perceived by pharmacists. There was an increase in remote working, although most participants continued to have a physical presence within general practices. Face-to-face interactions with patients reduced, which was negatively perceived by participants, and telephone consults were considered efficient yet less effective. Professional development activities were challenged by increased workloads and reduced support available. Although workplace stress was apparent, there was no indication of widespread job dissatisfaction. Conclusion: The pandemic has impacted pharmacists and technicians, but it is unknown if changes will be permanent, and there is a need to understand which changes should continue. Future research should explore the impact of altered service delivery, including remote working, on patient care.

Implementation of pharmaceutical preparation management during the covid-19 pandemic: literature review

“…Professional development activities are being challenged by increased workload and reduced available support. Although stress at work was apparent, there was no indication of widespread job dissatisfaction (Weir et al, 2022).…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Primary Care: A Scoping Review

“…There has been some major change in healthcare workers' decision-making in times of uncertainty in particular when allocating resources within this challenging clinical situation (29,30). This certainly has led to an impact on both the physical and mental health needs of healthcare workers, fears of transmitting the virus to family members, and lack of personal protection equipment, which has certainly led depleted workforce (31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36).…”

“…Decision-making during a non-pandemic environment can be in itself challenging for most healthcare workers. However, with the supplement of a pandemic, it has certainly added a new dimension to how decision-making in times of uncertainty is managed and has since been quite difficult for some healthcare workers when allocating resources within this challenging clinical situation [29,30]. This extra burden has certainly played a role in both the physical and mental health needs of healthcare workers [31].…”

Health human resources problems are everyone’s problems

“…With the accelerated implementation of full scope of practice activities across Canada, the lingering effects of the extraordinary stress associated with our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and a large cohort of pharmacists nearing (or exceeding) normal retirement age, the workforce issues facing the profession are more acute than ever. 2 A particular source of recent pressure has been the general state of primary care across Canada. 3 As pharmacists and patients know, accessibility to primary care services from coast to coast to coast has been increasingly problematic, 4 and this has emerged as a major political issue-and headache-for governments of all persuasions.…”

“…With the accelerated implementation of full scope of practice activities across Canada, the lingering effects of the extraordinary stress associated with our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and a large cohort of pharmacists nearing (or exceeding) normal retirement age, the workforce issues facing the profession are more acute than ever. 2…”