LOW ON AGENCY, HIGH ON BURNOUT: A NATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AMONG PHARMACY ASSISTANTS AND TECHNICIANS DURING THE INITIAL STAGES OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC IN HUNGARY
Author(s)
Georgina Balogh, MSc1, Anna Kuklis, BSc2, Erzsébet Háznagy-Radnai, PharmD PhD2, Irena Ilic, MD PhD3, Shazia Jamshed, PhD4, Regina Molnár, MD PhD5, Andrea Szabó, PharmD PhD5, Edit Paulik, MD PhD5, Márió Gajdács, MPH, MSc, PharmD, PhD5.
1Doctoral School of Experimental and Preventive Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary, 2University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary, 3University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, 4International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia, 5Department of Public Health, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
1Doctoral School of Experimental and Preventive Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary, 2University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary, 3University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, 4International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia, 5Department of Public Health, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
OBJECTIVES: Chronic occupational stress and allostatic overload may elevate the risk of lifestyle-related diseases and maladaptive behaviors. Although pharmacy personnel are foundational pillars of frontline healthcare delivery, they faced unprecedented operational and psychological strain during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study aimed to evaluate burnout levels, workplace satisfaction (WS), and their underlying predicting factors among pharmacy assistants (PhAs) and technicians (PhT) in Hungary, during the first wave of the pandemic.
METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted among PhA/PhT using non-probability sampling apporaches. Data were collected via a 100-item, self-administered questionnaire comprising: a) socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, b) Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), c) Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (R-SES), d) Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), e) WSS-Ph (a 27-item workplace satisfaction scale). Statistical analyses (descriptive statistics, Welch’s t-test, and Pearson-correlation) were performed using IBM SPSS 22.0 (α: 0.05).
RESULTS: Of the N=379 respondents (median age: 44 years, range: 18-72, 98.2% female), 60.2% were married, 69.4% had at least one child, and 49.3% had >10 years of experience in patient care. 50.9% was employed by pharmacy chains, while 43.5% worked in major urban environments. Low WS was identified in 67.3% of participants; notably, WS scores diminished by a longer workplace commute (<5km: 61.43±12.84 vs. >5km: 57.60±12.84; p=0.004). Having children (55.00±15.71 vs. childless: 60.82±18.33; p=0.011) and social support (54.71±16.09 vs. absence of support: 59.92±17.28; p=0.004) was associated with lower burnout scores. Negative correlation was confirmed between MBI-HSS burnout domains and the overall WS index (r=-0.271, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a highly vulnerable psychological profile among frontline PhA/PhT staff, characterized by widespread job dissatisfaction, and substantial susceptibility to stress. To buffer against chronic stress and to protect medicine supply chain integrity during public health crises, implementation of organizational changes, ergonomic improvements, and targeted workforce support is critical in pharmacies.
METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted among PhA/PhT using non-probability sampling apporaches. Data were collected via a 100-item, self-administered questionnaire comprising: a) socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, b) Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), c) Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (R-SES), d) Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), e) WSS-Ph (a 27-item workplace satisfaction scale). Statistical analyses (descriptive statistics, Welch’s t-test, and Pearson-correlation) were performed using IBM SPSS 22.0 (α: 0.05).
RESULTS: Of the N=379 respondents (median age: 44 years, range: 18-72, 98.2% female), 60.2% were married, 69.4% had at least one child, and 49.3% had >10 years of experience in patient care. 50.9% was employed by pharmacy chains, while 43.5% worked in major urban environments. Low WS was identified in 67.3% of participants; notably, WS scores diminished by a longer workplace commute (<5km: 61.43±12.84 vs. >5km: 57.60±12.84; p=0.004). Having children (55.00±15.71 vs. childless: 60.82±18.33; p=0.011) and social support (54.71±16.09 vs. absence of support: 59.92±17.28; p=0.004) was associated with lower burnout scores. Negative correlation was confirmed between MBI-HSS burnout domains and the overall WS index (r=-0.271, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a highly vulnerable psychological profile among frontline PhA/PhT staff, characterized by widespread job dissatisfaction, and substantial susceptibility to stress. To buffer against chronic stress and to protect medicine supply chain integrity during public health crises, implementation of organizational changes, ergonomic improvements, and targeted workforce support is critical in pharmacies.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
HSD49
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Organizational Practices
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas