Job Strain Profiles in Pharmacy Workforce: Evidence from the Job Demand, Control, and Support Model in Ghana

The Job Demand-Control-Support (JD-C-S) model evaluates how psychosocial work factors affect health and performance. We examined how demographics, job title, and experience influence demand, control, and support among Ghanaian pharmacy staff.

A cross-sectional survey of pharmacy personnel from Tamale and Sagnarigu was conducted using the JD-C-S questionnaire. Demand and control items were scored on a five-point Likert scale. For the main analyses, demand and control scores were dichotomized using sample median cutoffs (demand = 3.0; control/support = 3.5) and combined to classify participants into four job-strain categories: high strain, low strain, active, and passive. Associations were estimated using logistic regression and reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity analyses using linear regression with continuous JD-C-S scale scores were performed.

There were 117 pharmacy personnel (mean age: 26.7; 42% female). Passive (43.6%) and active jobs (29.1%) were the most common, followed by high-strain (18.8%) and low-strain (8.5%) jobs. Job demand means were significantly higher in participants aged ≤30 years than in younger participants (3.16 vs. 2.55, p < 0.001), as was job control means (3.50 vs. 2.82, p < 0.001). Medicine counter assistants had significantly higher odds of high-strain jobs than pharmacists (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.01-7.77). Sensitivity analyses indicated that medicine counter assistants experienced lower job control than pharmacists (β-coefficient: -0.38, 95% CI: -0.71 to -0.05).

Job title, experience, age, and sex shape the psychosocial work profiles of pharmacy personnel, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to reduce stress and support well-being.