Transcript 60x36 Poster Template - University of Charleston

The Changing Landscape of Pharmacy Manpower in West Virginia
David A. Latif, Ph.D., Fadi M. Alkhateeb, Ph.D, Michelle R. Easton, Pharm.D., David Bowyer, BSPharm, Michael Bottorff, Pharm.D
School of Pharmacy, University of Charleston, Charleston, WV
Background
According to the Aggregate Demand
Index (ADI) the shortage of pharmacists
has been particularly severe in West
Virginia from 2000 until early 2009.1
Since 2009 the ADI for W.V. has been
declining. The ADI has been identified as
one of the reasons for new schools of
pharmacy to open, and for existing
colleges and schools of pharmacy to
increase their class sizes.
In order to obtain richer information
regarding pharmacist manpower issues in
W.V., it is prudent to examine the
perceptions of pharmacists practicing in
the state.
Objectives
Our primary objectives were to (1) identify
and compare pharmacist perceptions of
staffing levels in West Virginia in 2011 with
a similar study done in 20052; and to (2)
identify pharmacist workload perceptions of
time spent with patients, ability to resolve
drug therapy problems and prevent errors,
and Disease State Management offerings
(DSM).
Methods
A mail survey was sent to all pharmacists
licensed by the W.V. Board of Pharmacy.
The subjects were contacted up to three
times (Two surveys and one reminder
postcard).
Discussion
Results
The survey was conducted between April 15, 2011, and June 15, 2011.
Of the 1983 mailed surveys, 13 were returned as undeliverable or from
retired pharmacists and the adjusted sample size was 1970.
A total of 596 responses were received giving an adjusted response rate of
30.3%.
Table 1. Comparison between 2005 and 2011 pharmacist staffing levels and impact
on patient care in West Virginia
Staffing statement
S.A. (%)
A (%)
N (%)
D (%)
S.D (%)
Years
05
11
05
11
05
11
05
11
05
11
Shortage of pharmacists
in WV
Greater shortage of
pharmacists in rural
areas of WV
Pharmacist staffing
impacts patient care
Pharmacist staffing
impacts ability to counsel
patients
32.9
2.7
48.6
13.8
8.6
23.5
9.2
36.2
0.5
23.7
28.3
13.2
47.4
42.0
19.1
28.1
4.6
12.0
0.5
14.6
68.2
65.0
28.9
28.7
2.3
4.2
0.5
1.2
0
0.8
55.4
57.0
30.4
27.0
10.1
9.0
6.0
5.8
2.4
1.2
Note: S.A. = strongly agree; A = agree; N = neutral; D = disagree; S.D. = strongly disagree
Table 2. Current level of workload for pharmacist in West Virginia in 2011
Statements
Very
positive (%)
Positive
(%)
Neutral
(%)
Negative
(%)
Very
Negative (%)
Mean
(S.D.)
Job performance
Time spent with each
patient
Quality of care provided
to patients
Ability to solve drug
therapy problems
19(3.2)
138(23.4)
224(38.0)
179(30.3)
30(5.1)
2.89(.93)
19(3.3)
103(17.8)
142(24.5)
235(40.6)
80(13.8)
2.56(1.04)
24(4.1)
126(21.8)
195(33.7)
195(33.7)
39(6.7)
2.83(.98)
25(4.3)
132(22.4)
193(22.8)
203(34.5)
35(6.0)
2.85(.98)
Job satisfaction
Ability to prevent
potential errors
Opportunity to take
adequate breaks
46(7.8)
135(23.0)
150(25.6)
172(29.3)
84(14.3)
2.81(1.17)
31(5.3)
141(24.1)
157(26.8)
203(34.7)
53(9.1)
2.82(1.06)
17(2.9)
93(15.8)
129(21.9)
170(28.9)
179(30.4)
2.32(1.15)
During the past six years, the perceived
pharmacy manpower environment has
changed significantly in W.V. Specifically,
60.2% of 2011 pharmacists disagree or
strongly disagree that there is a shortage
of pharmacists in W.V., compared to 9.7%
in 2005.2
As in the 2005 study, present staffing
levels have a negative impact on
perceived patient care. This investigation
revealed that W.V. pharmacists perceive
their workloads to negatively impact the
time they spend with patients, their
quality of care provided to patients, and
their ability to resolve and prevent drug
related problems.
Conclusion
During the past six years the perceived
pharmacist shortage has ameliorated in
a significant way in W.V. The results of
this study support the ADI data.
It might be prudent for colleges and
universities contemplating opening
pharmacy schools to reexamine their
reasons for doing so. Based on our
study opening additional SOPs in W.V.
may result in significant surpluses of
pharmacists in the near future.
References and Acknowledgement*
1. Knapp KK, Shah, BM, Barnett, MJ. The Pharmacist Aggregate Demand
Index to Explain Changing Pharmacist Demand Over a Ten-year Period.
Am J Pharm Edu. 2010; 74 (10) Article 189
2. Robinson ET, Bowyer D. Assessment of pharmacy manpower and
services in West Virginia. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2006 Sep;2(3):359-69
* The authors wish to thank Ciara Bostic for help with data entry.
ADDRESS QUESTIONS TO:
clauson@nova.