Career Satisfaction among Community Pharmacists
Muhammad Shahid Iqbal *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad Zahid Iqbal
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, 08100, Bedong, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: This study's objective was to determine the level of career satisfaction among practicing Community Pharmacists (CPs) and the impact of various factors on career satisfaction.
Methods: This cross-sectional study used a self-administered instrument to access the current level of career satisfaction among CPs. The survey instrument questions were adopted from previous studies and were contextualized to suit study objectives and revalidated using face and content validation. The study instrument was distributed and collected.
Results: A total of 172 responses from CPs were received, 112 (65.1%) from males and 60 (34.9%) from females. The difference in age categories was significantly profound in the less than 34 years old group being 113 (65.7%) compared with the more than 34 years old being 59 (34.3%). Around 98 (57%) were working in chain pharmacies and 74 (43%) in independent pharmacy stores. The study result showed126 (73.3%) were unsatisfied in their careers and 46 (26.7%) were satisfied.
Conclusion: Age and working experience are both major contributing factors to career satisfaction levels. Only 36.5% reported having higher career satisfaction levels among total participated CPs.
Keywords: Career satisfaction, community pharmacist, CPs.