High Burnout Risk in Critical Care Pharmacists

The incidence of burnout in critical care pharmacists is high and comparable to that of other critical care providers, according to a study published online in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 

“Studies in critical care physicians and nursing indicate a potentially high rate of burnout,” wrote Amanda M. Ball, PharmD, of Duke University, and colleagues. “To date there is a paucity of data in critical care pharmacists assessing burnout in this group.”

To investigate the incidence of burnout in pharmacists in critical care, researchers emailed an electronic questionnaire that included the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory Health Services Survey. Burnout was assessed in the areas of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a lack of personal accomplishment. 

Of 193 critical care pharmacists who completed the anonymous questionnaire, 64% reported burnout in at least one area, and 14.5% reported burnout in all three areas, according to the study. The study could not identify a single risk factor linked with burnout. 

“This [study] emphasizes the importance of continuing to evaluate risk factors for burnout and providing resources for burnout prevention to high-risk practitioners,” researchers wrote. 

—Jolynn Tumolo

Reference

Ball AM, Schultheis J, Lee HJ, Bush PW. Evidence of burnout in critical care pharmacists [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 13]. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2020;zxaa043. doi:10.1093/ajhp/zxaa043