Why are we still waiting? Views of future-focused policy and the direction of the profession from dissatisfied recent pharmacy graduates

Abstract

PurposeThe New Zealand Pharmacy Action Plan 2016–20 acknowledges the young, highly qualified pharmacist workforce, and seeks to address pharmacist underutilisation in the wider health setting. Anecdotal evidence suggests many recently qualified pharmacists are dissatisfied with the profession. Therefore, those completing BPharm programs after 2002, who had left or were seriously considering leaving the New Zealand pharmacy profession, were invited to comment on future-focused pharmacy documents, and the current direction of pharmacy in New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachAn online questionnaire was open December 2018 to February 2019. Recruitment occurred via e-mail lists of universities and professional organisations, print and social media, and word-of-mouth. Free-text responses were thematically analysed using a general inductive approach.FindingsFrom the 328 analysable surveys received, 172 respondents commented on the documents and/or direction of the pharmacy profession. Views were mixed. Overarching document-related themes were positive direction, but concern over achievability, the lack of funding details, lack of implementation, their benefits for pharmacists and the public, and ability to bring about change and secure a future for the profession. Overall pharmacy was considered an unattractive profession needing to change.Originality/valueThis study highlights dissatisfied recent BPharm graduates agree with the vision in the documents but do not see progress towards achieving the vision occurring, leading to frustration and exit in some cases. Policymakers should be aware of these views as considerable resource goes into their development.

Bridging the gap between healthcare professions’ regulation and practice: the “lived experience” of community pharmacists in Ireland following regulatory change

“…The authors acknowledge the very low response rate in this survey and the potential for this to impact on the generalizability of the findings to represent the wider CP population. However, the response rate is similar to a study of pharmacists on an analogous topic conducted recently in New Zealand [ 68 ]. The major contributing factor to this was undoubtedly the timing of the study in early 2020 which coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when CPs were confronted with substantial challenges in maintaining essential services and public concerns.…”

“…Almost three-quarters of those surveyed felt the regulatory requirements as implemented by the PSI acted as a disincentive either to recently registered pharmacists pursuing a career in community pharmacy or to established practitioners remaining in community practice. However, attrition from the pharmacy profession has been noted in other jurisdictions and attributable reasons are varied [ 68 , 69 ]. In its Corporate Strategy 2021–2023, the PSI proposes to identify and mitigate risks to the continued availability of the professional community pharmacy workforce as an action under its strategic objectives .…”

Exploración sobre la situación profesional y laboral de los farmacéuticos comunitarios de Gipuzkoa

“…Esta falta de reconocimiento profesional ha sido recogida también en un informe publicado por la FIP (10). En este sentido, algunos autores describen cómo la implantación de servicios profesionales asistenciales podría contribuir a reducir la frustración profesional y favorecer el desarrollo profesional del farmacéutico (11).…”

Editorial

“…The approach used in this research is important to the debates on primary care continuity and access to primary care services, from a policy, practice and research perspective. Aspden et al (2021) report on a cross-sectional mixed methods exploratory study looking at the satisfaction of New Zealand pharmacy graduates who recently entered into the profession. The study findings highlight that while there has been a lot of policy rhetoric around expanded scope for pharmacists practising in New Zealand, in practice there is often limited expansion of clinical roles and a perception of skill underutilisation The paper sets out areas future research and policy considerations.…”