Community pharmacy working conditions: Is stress impacting patient care?

Background: Community pharmacists have expanded their roles beyond traditional medication dispensing to include various clinical services. They play a critical role in reducing medication-related errors and enhancing patient safety. However, their effectiveness is significantly influenced by their work environment and associated challenges. Objectives: This cross-sectional study evaluates the stress levels of community pharmacists in Florida, USA, and examines how stress impacts patient care. Methods: A survey was developed and emailed to 23,016 licensed pharmacists in Florida. Responses were collected from March 9 to April 15, 2022. The primary outcomes measured were workplace stressor frequency in community pharmacies and the relationship between work environment factors and patient care quality. Secondary outcomes assessed differences in average Perceived Stress Scores (PSS) between chain and independent pharmacists and between those in managerial versus non-managerial roles. Results: Of 361 responses, 257 pharmacists completed the survey. Most (84.8 %) were chain pharmacists, 15.2 % independent. The primary stressor was staffing issues (57.98 %). Additionally, 71.9 % deemed working conditions unsafe, and 78.4 % struggled to provide quality care due to work stress. Chain pharmacists had significantly different PSS scores (22.72) versus independent pharmacists (22.82, p = 0.0034). No difference existed between managerial (25.44) and non-managerial pharmacists (25.11, p = 0.5962). Spearman correlations showed significant negative associations between PSS scores and difficulty providing quality care (ρ = −0.47, p < 0.0001) and unsafe conditions perceptions (ρ = −0.51, p < 0.0001). Patient care measures correlated positively (ρ = 0.71, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Stress significantly impacts community pharmacists' ability to provide quality care.