Impact of working environment on the level of occupational burnout among community pharmacists – a pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: The disorder known as burnout develops as a reaction to the damaging impacts of workplace stress. When occupational stress is poorly managed, it can result in burnout, which has a detrimental impact on workers’ performance and emotional and physical well-being. Those who work in the helping profession are the most vulnerable. Pharmacy practitioners are among the most vulnerable groups in the healthcare industry. Aim: The aim of the study was to look into how community pharmacists’ work environments affect their levels of occupational burnout. Materials and methods: The current survey included 127 pharmacists holders of a Master of Pharmacy degree who practice in Bulgaria’s northeast. A paper-based questionnaire with details about the workplace of these pharmacists and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS-MP), a validated assessment instrument, were used to conduct the survey. Results: The majority of those surveyed (53%) had a medium to high degree of burnout at work. The highest percentage of pharmacists (51%) received high scores on the depersonalization scale, which is associated with a lack of motivation for providing patient care. The degree of burnout was found to be unaffected by the kind of community pharmacy – chain or individually owned. Burnout was more prevalent among responsible and non-responsible pharmacists than among pharmacy owners. Conclusion: It was determined that pharmacists needed training and preventative measures to avoid occupational burnout, even though there was no evidence of a statistically significant relationship between the job position and burnout.