Topic 12: Strategies to Improve Working Conditions

Question 1

When can workplace stress arise?

Answer 1

Workplace stress can arise when there is an imbalance between the demands of the job, the control individuals can exert over their work, and the support individuals receive.

Question 2

What is workplace stress a major cause of?

Answer 2

Workplace stress is major cause of occupational ill health (mental and physical), poor productivity, and human error.
– Workplace stress experienced by the individual has the potential to more widely affect the quality and safety of patient care.

Question 3

What are some specific pharmacy stressors? (3)

Answer 3

1. High prescription volumes and workloads leading to a lower standard of work and low job satisfaction.
2. Inadequate break time; workflow interruption; poorly designed dispensary layouts; insufficient staffing levels.
3. Challenging patient encounters
   - Increased expectations and lack of civility

Question 4

What are some general pharmacy workplace stressors? (3)

Answer 4

1. Excessive documentation, and tight regulatory compliance requirements.
2. Feelings of reduced competency due to the mismatches between education, role, and daily tasks.
3. Expanding scope of practice without the necessary changes in the work setting.
   - Space, time, administrative support.

Question 5

While workplace stress and its consequences are observed across the health disciplines, community pharmacists are seen as particularly susceptible due to an inherent role conflict. Meaning? (2)

Answer 5

1. Within community pharmacy practice, the expansion of corporate pharmacy and non-pharmacist ownership within community practice has meant an increasing focus on business processes and goals.
2. Historically lower levels of professional autonomy relative to other health profession groups has meant that individual pharmacists are generally less able to successful resolve this conflict and therefore experience greater workplace stress making them more susceptible to burnout.

Question 6

Burnout due to a stressful workplace is seen as an increasingly important issue in health care due to its negative impact on: (3)

Answer 6

1. Health systems
   - Reduce productivity and increased turnover.
2. Care providers
   - Reduced psychological and physical wellbeing.
3. Patient care
   - Reduced quality of care.

Question 7

What are some pharmacist burnout risk factors? (10)

Answer 7

1. Working full time/longer hours worked per week
2. Younger age/less professional experience
3. High prescription/patient volumes
4. Increased workload
5. Poor work/life balance
6. Too many non-clinical/administrative duties
7. Inadequate administrative/teaching time
8. Additional professional/leadership role
9. Lack of burnout management resources or unaware of resources available
10. Lack of appreciation by colleagues for professional contributions

Question 8

Factors associated with a lower rate, or a protective effect against burnout include: (6)

Answer 8

1. Involvement in patient education & peer training
2. Being a tutor to a pharmacy student
   - Though risk of burnout if too many
3. Time away from work
4. Social interactions and hobbies
5. Access to burnout management resources
6. Awareness of or access to wellness programs.

Question 9

What is resilience?

Answer 9

Resilience is defined as the ability to recover from adversity, trauma, tragedy, or threats.
– Able to cope successfully with the stress caused by toxic personal or workplace relationships, serious health problems, or a range of workplace stressors.

Question 10

What is the good thing about individuals who are resilient?

Answer 10

Individuals who are resilient are open to new experiences, more adaptable to change, and more emotionally stable when faced with stress.

Question 11

What is emotional intelligence?

Answer 11

EI refers to the ability to understand and manage your emotions

Question 12

Emotional intelligence elements include: (4)

Answer 12

1. Self-awareness - understand your emotions;
2. Social awareness - understand the emotions of others;
3. Self-management - able to regulate your emotions; and
4. The ability to manage interpersonal relationships through teamwork, organizational commitment, and effective communication.

Question 13

What is the benefit of emotional intelligence?

Answer 13

EI has a beneficial effect on workplace stress, job performance, and emotional wellbeing

Question 14

What to know about pharmacies vs. pharmacists?

Answer 14

1. With the growing concentration of community pharmacy ownership into the hands a few large corporations, the historic tension and power imbalance between (capital) pharmacy owners and (labour) staff pharmacists has intensified.
2. Within this workplace ecosystem, individual pharmacists have little to no ability to mitigate higher workloads and declining incomes.