A national study into the rural and remote pharmacist workforce

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Workforce Research
• Rural Health

Background:

• Distance poses significant challenges for pharmacists in rural and remote Australia.
• National initiatives aim to improve recruitment and retention of this vital workforce.
• Understanding current practice is crucial for targeted support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe the current rural and remote pharmacy workforce.
• To identify barriers and drivers influencing rural and remote pharmacy practice.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative national consultations and a quantitative workforce survey.
• Qualitative data gathered through 83 interviews and 15 focus groups with 143 participants.
• Quantitative data from a 45-item survey sent to 3,300 rural/remote pharmacists (23.4% response rate).

Main Results:

• Key themes included the impact of national workforce changes, the role of regional pharmacy schools, and differing pharmacist roles.
• Rural/remote pharmacists were older (average 55.8 years) than the national average.
• Hospital pharmacists focused more on professional services and teaching, while community pharmacists focused on medication supply. Pharmacists reported high job satisfaction, with task variety, appreciation, and relationships as key satisfiers.

Conclusions:

• The study provides an overview of the rural/remote pharmacy workforce distribution, roles, and influencing factors.
• Further comparative studies between rural/remote and urban pharmacists are recommended.
• Investigating reasons for choosing and leaving rural/remote locations will enhance understanding of workforce sustainability.