Rest breaks in community pharmacy - to establish whether, how and when rest breaks are taken by community pharmacists and identify the opportunities and barriers to rest breaks being taken

In community pharmacies, evidence suggests that increased volume of work and pressures to meet targets, staff shortages, and deteriorating working conditions contribute negatively to staff wellbeing and have led to concerns that patient safety is being compromised through increased dispensing errors. Anecdotal reports suggest that community pharmacists often do not take rest breaks. Emerging evidence from two recent surveys of community pharmacists conducted at Manchester Pharmacy School suggest that an inability to take sufficient rest breaks is the second biggest factor (out of 66) contributing to work dis-satisfaction and that this is a commonly cited contributor to work stress. Such reports are alarming and raise concerns about the effects this kind of work environment is having on pharmacists’ health, job performance and patient safety. However, there is still little firm evidence of how widespread such problems are and the underlying reasons for not taking breaks. Moreover, no evidence exists of the effectiveness of implementing rest break schedules in community pharmacy.

The aim of this PhD project would be to a) establish whether, how and when rest breaks are taken by community pharmacists and identify the opportunities and barriers to rest breaks being taken; b) investigate the association between taking rest breaks and mental strain/workload in pharmacists; and/or c) develop and feasibility test an organisational intervention to facilitate the taking of rest breaks by community pharmacists for alleviating work-related stress and fatigue and reducing the risk of dispensing errors.

This mixed methods project would provide opportunities to undertake both qualitative and quantitative research techniques with some flexibility over whether a purely observational or experimental approach is taken.

The successful candidate will have opportunities to undertake appropriate training to support their development of skills in research methods including qualitative (interviews, focus groups, observation) and quantitative (survey, experimental) research techniques.

Applicants are expected to hold a minimum upper-second (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in pharmacy, psychology or related areas. A related Masters qualification or substantial (>2 years) research experience would be beneficial. The successful candidate will be expected to have a passion for working in research and a desire to improve occupational psychological health and well-being. An interest in behavioural interventions designed to improve working conditions would also be beneficial.

This project may be suitable for a pharmacist interested in applying for an NIHR or PRUK studentship. Alternatively, it may suit someone with a background in organisational psychology.

This 4-year full-time PhD is open to candidates able to provide evidence of self-arranged funding/ sponsorship and is due to commence from January 2017 onwards.

Any enquiries relating to the project and/or suitability should be directed to Dr Willis ([Email Address Removed]). Applications are invited on an on-going basis but early expression of interest is encouraged.