Pharmacy workforce: a systematic review of key drivers of pharmacists' satisfaction and retention.

Abstract

Background: Pharmacy workforces are central to healthcare systems, yet the profession faces challenges in job satisfaction and retention due to evolving roles, workload pressures, and other issues. Understanding workforce stability is crucial for optimising pharmacy services.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to identify and analyze the critical factors impacting pharmacy staff job satisfaction and retention, providing actionable insights to improve workforce stability and long-term engagement in the profession.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), covering broad academic databases including EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and the supplementary use of Google Scholar for studies published between 2019 and 2024. The quality of the included articles was evaluated, revealing a generally low to moderate risk of bias.

Results: The review synthesised findings from 81 studies and extracted ten relevant themes. Countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia countries contributed most frequently, highlighting regional research diversity. Key factors influencing job satisfaction included burnout, stress, and workload (24%); work conditions and roles (22%); professional development (14%); earnings and benefits (10%); and leadership support (9%).

Conclusion: With a global perspective that travels across 36 countries in five continents, this study is the latest in-depth analysis of factors influencing job satisfaction in the pharmacy workforce. This review emphasises the need for policy reforms and further research on workplace conditions in different locations. It provides insights for policymakers and healthcare leaders to enhance the pharmacy workforce's strategic support and engagement initiatives.