A Descriptive Study Identifying Pharmacist Workforce Gaps in Arizona

Abstract

Purpose. To determine if there are specific in demand knowledge/skills in pharmacy profession that applicants do not meet. Methods. Arizona licensed Pharmacists as of 5/14/2019, were invited to participate in an optional/anonymous descriptive electronic questionnaire to be completed using QualtricsXM. The survey contained eight domains assessing various knowledge/skills expected from pharmacist applicants. Descriptive statistics were used for respondents' characteristics, Chi-square test for categorical data, multivariate logistic regression to identify respondents' characteristics influencing their responses, and qualitative thematic analysis technique to assess the free responses. Results. Out of 7570 invited pharmacists, 970 responded (response rate=12.8%). In analyses, 686 respondents (88% working, 48.1% with precepting experience, 55.7% involved with hiring) included. Majority worked in chain community pharmacies (32.6%) followed by inpatient setting (21.6%). About 50.1% found pharmacist applicants able to effectively dispense medications and 46.4% able to provide appropriate therapeutic recommendations. Conversely, 42% stated that applicants lacked conflict management skills. Multivariate logistic regression showed respondents involved in hiring were more likely to find applicants lacking management skills, conflict management and laws/regulation knowledge than those not involved in hiring (ORadj=0.51 [95% CI (0.31-0.83), p<0.01], ORadj=0.49 [95% CI (0.29-0.80), p<0.01], ORadj=0.48 [95% CI (0.22-0.99), p=0.05] respectively). Qualitative thematic analysis found 37% of respondents finding applicants deficient in professionalism/work ethic, 34% in patient communication, and 24.2% in management skills. Conclusion. Our findings suggest gaps in management and conflict management skills, professionalism/work ethic, and patient communication in pharmacy workforce in Arizona. Interventions to bridge these gaps should include curricular and real-life trainings in these areas.