Prevalence and risk factors of burnout in community pharmacists

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors for occupational burnout in community pharmacists. MethodsCommunity pharmacists were solicited through a professional network e-mail Listserv to complete an anonymous, electronic survey on burnout. The survey included the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and a work-factors–based questionnaire. The MBI-HSS assessed burnout on the basis of feelings of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. The additional questionnaire was used to evaluate risk factors for burnout by collecting information on pharmacist demographics, position characteristics, and pharmacy store characteristics. Logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors associated with burnout. ResultsA total of 412 community pharmacists responded to the survey (7.4% response rate), of whom 411 were included in the final analysis. Overall, 308 (74.9%) of responding community pharmacists experienced burnout in at least 1 of the 3 subscales of the MBI-HSS. Most of the pharmacists experienced burnout owing to emotional exhaustion (68.9%), followed by depersonalization (50.4%) and reduced personal accomplishment (30.7%). The significant risk factors for burnout included shorter years of experience, practicing primarily in a chain pharmacy, and a lack of resources for burnout or resiliency. ConclusionThere is a high degree of burnout in community pharmacists (74.9%). Future research is warranted to examine optimal strategies to prevent burnout and promote resiliency in the profession.