The US pharmacy profession could face severe shortage of pharmacists in the next decade as a large number of pharmacists are preparing to retire and many are opting to undertake pharmacy profession as part-time work, according to a study released in the May/June 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA).

As per the National Pharmacist Workforce Study, compiled by a questionnaire completed by 1,470 practicing pharmacists, undertaken by the Pharmacy Manpower Project, Inc. (PMP), the number of practicing women pharmacists increased from 31 per cent in 1990 to 46 per cent in 2004. The study finds a large percentage of men pharmacists nearing retirement, with more than 4 in 10 (41.2 per cent) age 55 and over, compared with only about 10 per cent of women pharmacists. Meanwhile, more pharmacists of both genders are working part-time-27 per cent of women and 15.5 per cent of men in 2004 (compared with 23.4 per cent and 11.6 per cent, respectively, in 2000).

"The changing face of pharmacy will be increasingly evident in the next 5 to 10 years with more women in the workforce, the potential for more part-time work by pharmacists, and the desire of pharmacists to spend more time on counselling and other patient services," according to David A. Mott, PhD, the study's project director and associate professor and Hammel/Sanders chair in pharmacy administration at the University of Wisconsin.

Although the trend of part-time work is increasing for both men and women pharmacists, the study finds women are fuelling the trend toward more part-time work. For women aged 31-50 years, more than 30 per cent are working part-time.

In 2004, pharmacists spent 49 per cent of their typical day dispensing drugs and 32 per cent of their time on activities such as advising patients on drug therapies, evaluating the safety of drug therapy, administering vaccines, and counselling patients on services ranging from self-care to disease management. The results suggest pharmacists would like to spend only 39 per cent of their day dispensing drugs and increase the time spent providing services to patients to 48 per cent of their day.

The study also showed that consistent with the growing number of prescriptions dispensed in community pharmacies, the workload for pharmacists has increased between 2000 and 2004. Pharmacists report the high workload can negatively affect their work, including activities such as ability to take a break (48 per cent), opportunity to reduce errors (36 per cent), time spent with patients (35 per cent), and ability to solve drug therapy problems (33 per cent).

The most stressful events for pharmacists include inadequate pharmacy technician staffing levels (38 per cent), telephone interruptions (37 per cent), and inadequate pharmacists' staffing (34 per cent). 'Dealing with difficult patients' and 'dealing with difficult co-workers' are cited by 33 per cent of pharmacists.

Despite the high workload, the study finds a high level of job satisfaction. More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of pharmacists in 2004 report a "high level" of job satisfaction compared with 66 per cent in 2000.

Sources said the potential worsening shortfall is coming at a pivotal time with pharmacists wanting to spend less time dispensing drugs and more time providing patient-centered services such as immunizations and counselling seniors on proper medication usage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

The study was commissioned by the PMP. The PMP comprises the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American College of Apothecaries, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Pharmacists Association, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Bureau of Health Professions, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Community Pharmacists Association, National Council of State Pharmacy Association Executives, National Pharmaceutical Association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.