Policy solutions to address community pharmacy working conditions

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Services Research
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Poor working conditions in community pharmacies impact patient safety.
• Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) play a significant role in the US healthcare system.
• There is a need to understand pharmacists' perspectives on improving their work environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess community pharmacists' perceptions of potential solutions to improve working conditions.
• To explore pharmacists' proposed strategies for enhancing their professional environment.
• To identify key areas for intervention to improve pharmacist well-being and patient care.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods, survey-based study was conducted with 1222 community pharmacists.
• Participants used a 7-point Likert scale to rate proposed solutions at company, state, and national levels.
• Multiple regression analysis examined relationships between perceptions and pharmacy type, qualifications, and workload.

Main Results:

• Pharmacists in national chains favored limiting prescription verification and opposed addressing reimbursement more than those in grocery or independent pharmacies.
• While staffing and corporate priorities were immediate concerns, regulating PBM reimbursement was identified as the primary solution.
• Significant differences in perceptions were observed based on pharmacy type, controlling for experience, degree, and prescription volume.

Conclusions:

• Solutions identified by pharmacists can inform employers and external entities to improve working conditions and patient care.
• Restricting PBMs emerged as the most preferred solution, followed by reimbursement for services.
• Improving community pharmacy working conditions likely requires a multifaceted approach addressing various interconnected factors.