Development of well-being assessment criteria for pharmacists: a mixed-methods study in the Eastern Special...

Pharmacists' capacity to handle their workload and fulfil health service expectations affect their well-being. This study aimed to analyze and validate the second-order confirmatory factor analysis of pharmacists' well-being in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) of Thailand and establish criteria for assessing pharmacists' well-being.

A mixed-methods explanatory sequential approach was employed in two phases. Phase 1: Quantitative study involving data collection from 400 pharmacists using a structured questionnaire with second-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Phase 2: Qualitative study including in-depth interviews with seven key informants to refine assessment criteria and interpret quantitative results.

The quantitative findings indicated that the second-order confirmatory factor analysis of pharmacists' well-being exhibited a good fit with the empirical data. The highest loading was observed for physical well-being (PWb), followed by occupational well-being (OWb), emotional well-being (EWb), social well-being (SWb), financial well-being (FWb), and spiritual well-being (SpWb). The qualitative findings provided robust support for the validity of the proposed factor structure. The pharmacists highlighted the significance of PWb, followed by OWb. They stated that the implementation of stress management strategies facilitated EWb. SWb was defined as the support received from colleagues, FWb was associated with the need for security, and SpWb was linked to the pursuit of meaning in one's work.

These findings advocate for the establishment of a programme for promoting well-being among pharmacists that focuses on their physical health, workplace enhancements, and increased professional recognition. Pharmacists' well-being in the EEC is influenced by various factors such as physical health, professional engagement, emotional resilience, organisational systems, and work context. These insights can guide policy development, human resource management, and organisational wellness initiatives that can enhance the quality of life of pharmacists.