Survey of certified pharmacy technicians in the United States: a quality-of-worklife study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a nationwide random sample of Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) by various demographic and work-related characteristics, identify various worklife attitudes, and determine whether these attitudes differed by practice setting and personal characteristics of the respondents.


METHODS
Cross-sectional descriptive design.


METHODS
A random sample of 3,200 CPhTs provided by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.


METHODS
Survey mailed in January 2004.


METHODS
Responses to previously validated instruments measuring quality-of-worklife attitudes, rankings of factors as probable causes of medication preparation errors, and topics for continuing education (CE) programming.


RESULTS
The typical respondent was a white woman, 39 years of age, who was earning dollar 12.87 per hour. CPhTs exhibited modest levels of job satisfaction and career commitment and relatively low career turnover intention. They perceived modestly high levels of support from supervisors and coworkers, but less support from their employers. Quality-of-worklife attitudes were associated significantly with practice setting, rate of pay, and age, but not with gender and racial/ethnic background.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of CPhTs' continuingly important role in the delivery of pharmacy care, employers of CPhTs may want to consider rewarding experienced CPhTs who have demonstrated competency and loyalty to the organization. Career ladders for CPhTs may be a viable option.
Desselle
Shane P
SP
Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Bayer Learning Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA. desselle@duq.edu
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D010596:Pharmacy Technicians / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000191:economics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data