Factors influencing clinically trained pharmacists to pursue management roles: A modified Delphi survey

This study aimed to establish consensus among a sample of pharmacist clinicians on factors that would make them more or less likely to transition from a position primarily in direct patient care to a management position that included direct reports.

A 3-round modified Delphi survey was conducted. Pharmacists were selected as panelists to gain further information on the transition from a clinician to a managerial role. Study investigators utilized their professional network of pharmacy leaders nationwide who may have had staff who met the inclusion criteria. Participating pharmacy leaders emailed staff an interest survey, and participant email addresses were collected. During the round 1 survey, 2 open-ended questions were used to identify both positive and negative factors influencing pursuit of a managerial roles and responses were analyzed for factor development. In round 2, factors that met or exceeded a predetermined consensus agreement threshold of 70% were included in the round 3 survey. In round 3, a 4-point Likert scale was utilized for respondents to indicate agreement with each factor remaining.

For each consecutive round, the survey response rate was 63% (96/152), 83% (79/96), and 87% (69/79), respectively. A total of 595 factor terms submitted by panelists in round 1 were consolidated into 30 "more likely" and 27 "less likely" factors by round 3. In round 3, the 70% agreement threshold was met across all factors. One less likely factor regarding workload expectations reached 100% total agreement.

The survey results may assist pharmacy administrative leaders in optimizing transitions to managerial roles by considering clinician perspectives.