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Factors associated with work impairment and productivity among Lebanese community pharmacists

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International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background Community pharmacists provide an essential service by promoting, maintaining and improving the health of the community. However, factors affecting community pharmacists’ work productivity remain poorly studied. Objective Our study aimed to assess, on a national level, work productivity components and its correlates among Lebanese community pharmacists. Methods: The study was carried out between March and July 2018, using a representative sample of community pharmacies from all districts of Lebanon. Main outcome measure: The work productivity components were assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire. Results The study included 435 community pharmacists, the prevalence of sickness presenteeism and sickness absenteeism reached 91% and 45%, respectively. Presenteeism was positively associated with reporting higher depression score (β = 0.26) and insomnia (β = 0.20) whereas better mental (β = − 0.35) and physical health (β = − 0.38) were negatively associated with presenteeism. Absenteeism was positively associated with male gender (adjusted OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.14–3.70), reporting higher depression score (adjusted OR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.02–1.11) and negatively associated with better mental and physical health (adjusted OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.96 and adjusted OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.93–0.99; respectively). Activity impairment was positively associated with depression (β = 0.16) and insomnia (β = 0.12) and negatively associated with better mental (β = − 0.22) and physical health (β = − 0.015). Conclusion This is the first study assessing work productivity and activity impairment among Lebanese community pharmacists. Further research is needed to predict sickness absenteeism and presenteeism and this information will be useful to ensure quality of care is delivered.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all pharmacists who participated in this study.

Conflicts of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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None.

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Author notes

  1. Souheil Hallit and Pascale Salameh are jointly the last co-authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon

    Rita Farah & Pascale Salameh

  2. INSPECT-LB, Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie- Liban, Beirut, Lebanon

    Rita Farah, Hala Sacre, Marwan Akel, Souheil Hallit & Pascale Salameh

  3. School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Diana Malaeb & Marwan Akel

  4. Life Sciences and Health Department, Paris-Est University, Paris, France

    Diana Malaeb

  5. Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon

    Souheil Hallit

  6. Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Pascale Salameh

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  1. Rita Farah
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Farah, R., Malaeb, D., Sacre, H. et al. Factors associated with work impairment and productivity among Lebanese community pharmacists. Int J Clin Pharm 42, 1097–1108 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-020-01087-0

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