Predictors of Stress and Burnout Among Pharmacy Faculty in the United States

Abstract

Objective: Stress and burnout may impact pharmacy faculty's well-being, quality of life, and productivity. This research study aimed to assess pharmacy faculty's overall burnout and stress levels in the United States and identify the characteristics associated with these 2 constructs while controlling for faculty characteristics.

Methods: A total of 5245 faculty members were invited to participate in a survey between November 2021 and February 2022. Burnout was assessed using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. Stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale. Bivariate analyses were used to identify potential predictors of pharmacy faculty-perceived burnout and stress. The relationships between time allocation across different academic responsibilities and faculty's perceived burnout and stress were assessed using linear regression analyses.

Results: Out of 5139 delivered invitations, responses were collected from 774 pharmacy faculty members (response rate = 15.1%). Faculty exhibited moderate levels of burnout, with an average score of 40.1 on a scale from 16 to 64. Additionally, they displayed moderate perceived stress levels, with an average score of 18.2 on a scale from 0 to 40. Faculty displayed significantly more burnout and stress if they were unmarried, nontenured, younger, female, had lower academic rank, or worked in pharmacy practice departments. Higher stress and burnout were associated with spending more time on teaching, whereas lower burnout and stress were associated with spending more time on administration.

Conclusion: This study found that US pharmacy faculty experience moderate levels of stress and burnout. Some demographic factors and time allocation for teaching and administrative tasks influence these levels.

Keywords: Burnout; Oldenburg Burnout Inventory; Perceived Stress Scale; Stress; Teaching.