Staff pharmacists' opinions about performance appraisals

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Administration
• Human Resources Management

Background:

• The performance appraisal (PA) process is crucial for employee development and organizational effectiveness.
• Understanding staff pharmacists' perceptions of the PA process is essential for optimizing its implementation in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess staff pharmacists' knowledge and satisfaction with their hospital's performance appraisal (PA) process.
• To compare staff pharmacists' views on the PA process with those of their pharmacy administrators.
• To identify factors influencing staff pharmacists' satisfaction with the PA process.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide survey was conducted using a two-page questionnaire distributed to staff pharmacists.
• Interviews were held with pharmacy administrators at 11 hospitals.
• Data from 142 returned staff pharmacist surveys were analyzed and compared with administrator responses.

Main Results:

• A low percentage of agreement was found between staff pharmacists' and administrators' responses regarding many aspects of the PA process.
• Staff pharmacists reported higher satisfaction when a written performance plan was utilized.
• Frequent feedback throughout the year significantly correlated with increased staff pharmacist satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• There is a notable discrepancy between staff pharmacists' and administrators' understanding of the PA process.
• Implementing written performance plans and providing regular performance feedback can enhance staff pharmacists' satisfaction.
• Orientation of staff pharmacists to the PA process is recommended for improved engagement and outcomes.