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Assessing workplace factors that influence staff burnout and identifying recommendations to support staff well-being

Jacqueline M Zeeman¹, Isabel C Matt², Emili B Anderson²

¹Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education, Associate Dean of PharmD Curricular Strategy and Assessment, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, 301 Pharmacy Lane, Campus Box 7574, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7574, United States of America.

Currents in Pharmacy Teaching & Learning

|July 30, 2025

Abstract

Introduction:

Burnout and well-being have been previously studied in pharmacists, faculty, and students; yet, studies focused on staff are lacking. Research indicates most higher education staff experience burnout; however, workplace factors contributing to this are not well understood. This study aimed to identify factors influencing staff burnout and identify recommendations to improve staff well-being in pharmacy education.

Methods:

Full-time staff were invited to participate in this exploratory study. Focus groups were divided by position type (ie, Administrative Staff, Support Staff, Research Staff) and used a semi-structured interview format. Participants were prompted to discuss workplace factors contributing to their burnout and well-being as well as strategies to improve staff well-being.

Results:

Twenty-seven staff participated in five focus groups: 11 Administrative Staff in two focus groups, 13 Support Staff in two focus groups, and three Research Staff in one focus group. Themes identified as influencing staff burnout included feeling valued, workplace relationships, elements of the working environment (eg, autonomy/trust, flexibility), and resources. Administrative and Support Staff emphasized hybrid work and student interaction as factors influencing their well-being, while Research Staff highlighted supervisor and coworker relationships. Factors influencing staff burnout included higher education culture (eg, hierarchies) and unrealistic expectations. Recommendations to foster staff well-being were unique for each group.

Conclusions:

Participants identified several workplace factors that contribute to staff burnout and well-being in pharmacy education. These findings advance national and international initiatives focused on prioritizing wellness and reducing burnout, informing the academy of specific areas and strategies to support staff well-being.

Keywords:

Burnout Health professions Pharmacy Staff Well-being

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