Perceptions of work among men and women pharmacists in nonadministrative positions

Perceptions of the types of duties performed by men and women hospital pharmacists in one section of a single state were studied, and differences in job attitudes that may be attributable to discriminatory job assignments are identified. A survey consisting of 153 questions was mailed to 507 pharmacists (328 men, 175 women, 4 whose sex was unknown) practicing in southeastern Michigan hospitals. Participants used a seven-point scale to rate the relative amounts of time they spent in various job activities. Activities were grouped as dispensing functions and clinical functions. Allotted time ratings for six clinical and six dispensing functions were averaged for each pharmacist. The survey used modules from the Michigan Organizational Assessment Questionnaire to measure pharmacists' perceptions of the quality of their work. Information from 279 questionnaires (60% men) was analyzed. No difference was evident in the perceived amounts of time men and women spent performing clinical activities. Women reported significantly greater time than men performing dispensing functions. Based on job dimensions, psychological states, and personal and work outcomes, a higher level of job satisfaction was expressed by men than by women. Men and women nonadministrative hospital pharmacists in this limited study perceived thier tasks differently.