Open AccessBritish pharmacists' work‐life balance – is it a problem?
Author(s) -
Seston Elizabeth,
Hassell Karen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.42
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 2042-7174
pISSN - 0961-7671
DOI - 10.1111/ijpp.12040
Subject(s) - work–life balance , medicine , workforce , pharmacy , work (physics) , scale (ratio) , balance (ability) , pharmacist , government (linguistics) , ethnic group , family medicine , gerontology , nursing , physical therapy , mechanical engineering , linguistics , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics , sociology , anthropology , engineering , economics , economic growth
Objectives Using a validated tool, the study aimed to explore pharmacists' experiences of maintaining work/life balance in a large, nationally representative sample of pharmacists in G reat B ritain ( GB ). Methods A two‐page postal questionnaire was sent in 2008 to all GB ‐domiciled pharmacists who were registered with the regulatory body for pharmacy in GB (just over 44 000 pharmacists). Demographic information, work patterns and other employment data were collected and analysed using regression techniques to explore the link between these characteristics and a validated measure of work/life balance. Key findings The response rate to the census was 69.6% ( n = 30 517). Eighty‐three per cent ( n = 25 243) of respondents were working as a pharmacist and were therefore eligible to complete the work/life balance statements. The results reported here relate to 12 364 individuals who had full data for the work/life balance scale and the demographic and work variables. Findings indicate that age, ethnicity, having caring responsibilities, sector of practice, hours of work and type of job are significant predictors of work/life balance problems. Conclusions Pharmacy employers and government should recognise the changing demographic characteristics of the profession and consider what support might be available to the workforce to help alleviate work/life balance problems being experienced by certain groups of pharmacists.