The impact of increasing workloads and role expansion on female community pharmacists in the United Kingdom.
BACKGROUND
Evidence from United Kingdom and the United States indicates that community pharmacists' workloads have increased in recent years for 2 reasons. First, because of social and demographic changes there has been a greater demand for pharmaceutical services. Second, the community pharmacists' role has expanded. This article explores the effect of increased workloads on female community pharmacists.


METHODS
Face-to-face interviews (n=30) were conducted with women over the age of 30 years in the North West of England who worked as community pharmacists. The interview schedule was designed to explore factors underpinning female working patterns in community pharmacy. Specifically, interviewees were asked about perceptions of working conditions, positive and negative aspects of community pharmacy working, views of recent changes in pharmacy, and future career plans.


RESULTS
Findings suggest that although community pharmacists enjoy aspects of their new roles, their work environment has become increasingly pressurized, resulting in decreased job satisfaction. Additionally, this study found some evidence that increasing workloads resulted in decreased health and well-being.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of the community pharmacist has significantly altered in recent years, and this has occurred following a decade of increasing workloads. Consideration of the factors shaping community pharmacy points to high-pressure working environments becoming common place. This is likely to have a negative impact on pharmacists and conceivably the services they provide.
Gidman
Wendy K
WK
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science University of Central Lancashire, Maudland Building, Preston PR1 2HE, UK. wkgidman@uclan.ac.uk
Hassell
Karen
K
Day
Jennifer
J
Payne
Katherine
K
D000328:Adult; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003625:Data Collection; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D024382:Professional Role; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016526:Workload