Unmasking the Unrecognized

Exploring Registered Pharmacy Technicians’ Stressors During Covid-19 Through a Demands-Resources Inquiry and Looking Ahead

Bibliographic Data

ID13775347
AuthorsAyesha Khan (0000-0002-0470-9047, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada), Patricia Nicole Dignos (University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada), Andrew Papadopoulos (0000-0002-2339-1951, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada), Behdin Nowrouzi‐Kia (0000-0002-5586-4282, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada), Myuri Sivanthan (University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada), Basem Gohar (0000-0001-8131-1190, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume61
Pages469580241241391-469580241241391
Publication date2024-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueINQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0046-9580 • E-ISSN: 1945-7243
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00469580241241391
PMID38523405
OpenAlexW4393152525
LanguageEN
References cited33

Canadian registered pharmacy technicians (RPTs) were vital in supporting pharmacy operations during the pandemic. However, they have received little attention during or pre-pandemic. This study aimed to identify and understand the stressors experienced by Canadian RPTs during the pandemic and gain insights on lessons learned to help improve the profession. Through a descriptive qualitative design, virtual semi-structured focus groups were conducted with RPTs who were recruited through various sampling methods across Canada. Data were inductively analyzed and then deductively; themes were categorized using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model. We reached data saturation after 4 focus group sessions with a total of 16 participants. As per the JD-R model, job demands included: (1) increased work volume and hours to meet patient demand; (2) drug shortages and managing prescriptions increased due to influx of orders coinciding with restricted access to medications; (3) fear of the unknown nature of COVID-19 met with frequent change in practices due to protocol changes and ineffective communication; and, (4) the pandemic introduced several factors leading to increased staff shortages. Themes pertaining to resources included: (1) poor incentives and limited access to well-being resources; (2) limited personal protective equipment delaying work operations; (3) and a general lack of knowledge or appreciation of the profession impacting work morale. Lessons learned from the pandemic were also provided. Overall, our findings revealed an imbalance where RPTs experienced high job demands with limited resources. Improved leadership within pharmacies, including improved communication between team members, is required. Furthermore, efforts to highlight and recognize the work of RPTs to the public is important to help improve enrollment, especially with their recent scope of practice expansion

Business · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Economic shortage · Focus group · Government (linguistics · Incentive · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Management · Medical education · Pandemic · Political science · Public relations · Stressor · Work (physics · Workload · COVID-19 and healthcare impacts · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Engineering · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Marketing · Medicine · Nursing · Pharmacy · Psychology

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