Factors contributing to pharmacists leaving employment in general practice in Australia: an exploratory study

Louise S Deeks; Sam Kosari; Gregory M Peterson; Thilini Sudeshika; Mark Naunton

doi:10.1093/ijpp/riad023

Factors contributing to pharmacists leaving employment in general practice in Australia: an exploratory study

Louise S Deeks, Sam Kosari, Gregory M Peterson, Thilini Sudeshika, Mark Naunton

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify perceived factors contributing to pharmacists leaving employment in general practice.

METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with pharmacists who had left employment in general practice within 12 months of commencing (5 pharmacists out of 14 recruited into these roles) in Canberra, Australia. Thematic analysis was undertaken.

KEY FINDINGS: The main specific reasons cited for leaving were lack of utilisation and part-time hours, while the over-arching themes identified were: challenges of the new role, poor role definition, professional relationships and job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of newly appointed general practice pharmacists, employment turnover was relatively high. The interview findings indicated a need for strategies, including having clear role descriptions that are understood by all members of the practice team, so that pharmacists with appropriate skillsets can be supported and retained in the general practice setting.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	438-441
Number of pages	4
Journal	International Journal of Pharmacy Practice
Volume	31
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpp/riad023
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2023

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title = "Factors contributing to pharmacists leaving employment in general practice in Australia: an exploratory study",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: To identify perceived factors contributing to pharmacists leaving employment in general practice.METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with pharmacists who had left employment in general practice within 12 months of commencing (5 pharmacists out of 14 recruited into these roles) in Canberra, Australia. Thematic analysis was undertaken.KEY FINDINGS: The main specific reasons cited for leaving were lack of utilisation and part-time hours, while the over-arching themes identified were: challenges of the new role, poor role definition, professional relationships and job satisfaction.CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of newly appointed general practice pharmacists, employment turnover was relatively high. The interview findings indicated a need for strategies, including having clear role descriptions that are understood by all members of the practice team, so that pharmacists with appropriate skillsets can be supported and retained in the general practice setting.",

keywords = "clinical pharmacy, interprofessional issues, job satisfaction, primary care, workforce",

author = "Deeks, {Louise S} and Sam Kosari and Peterson, {Gregory M} and Thilini Sudeshika and Mark Naunton",

note = "Funding Information: Between February 2016 and July 2021, 11 general practices in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) received funding from the Primary Health Network (PHN; Capital Health Network) following expressions of interest to employ pharmacists to improve medication use and safety. Some of the pharmacists recruited chose to leave their roles prior to their contracts expiring. The aim of this exploratory study was to explore what caused pharmacists to leave and any perceived barriers to integration in general practice that had influenced this decision. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. All rights reserved.",

year = "2023",

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doi = "10.1093/ijpp/riad023",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

pages = "438--441",

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T2 - an exploratory study

AU - Deeks, Louise S

AU - Kosari, Sam

AU - Peterson, Gregory M

AU - Sudeshika, Thilini

AU - Naunton, Mark

N1 - Funding Information: Between February 2016 and July 2021, 11 general practices in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) received funding from the Primary Health Network (PHN; Capital Health Network) following expressions of interest to employ pharmacists to improve medication use and safety. Some of the pharmacists recruited chose to leave their roles prior to their contracts expiring. The aim of this exploratory study was to explore what caused pharmacists to leave and any perceived barriers to integration in general practice that had influenced this decision. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. All rights reserved.

PY - 2023/8/1

Y1 - 2023/8/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To identify perceived factors contributing to pharmacists leaving employment in general practice.METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with pharmacists who had left employment in general practice within 12 months of commencing (5 pharmacists out of 14 recruited into these roles) in Canberra, Australia. Thematic analysis was undertaken.KEY FINDINGS: The main specific reasons cited for leaving were lack of utilisation and part-time hours, while the over-arching themes identified were: challenges of the new role, poor role definition, professional relationships and job satisfaction.CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of newly appointed general practice pharmacists, employment turnover was relatively high. The interview findings indicated a need for strategies, including having clear role descriptions that are understood by all members of the practice team, so that pharmacists with appropriate skillsets can be supported and retained in the general practice setting.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To identify perceived factors contributing to pharmacists leaving employment in general practice.METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with pharmacists who had left employment in general practice within 12 months of commencing (5 pharmacists out of 14 recruited into these roles) in Canberra, Australia. Thematic analysis was undertaken.KEY FINDINGS: The main specific reasons cited for leaving were lack of utilisation and part-time hours, while the over-arching themes identified were: challenges of the new role, poor role definition, professional relationships and job satisfaction.CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of newly appointed general practice pharmacists, employment turnover was relatively high. The interview findings indicated a need for strategies, including having clear role descriptions that are understood by all members of the practice team, so that pharmacists with appropriate skillsets can be supported and retained in the general practice setting.

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KW - workforce

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Factors contributing to pharmacists leaving employment in general practice in Australia: an exploratory study

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