| Sumario: | Background Performance metrics used in the community and outpatient settings are largely undocumented. The impact that metrics may have on patient safety, pharmacy errors, and pharmacists’ job satisfaction also has been scarcely studied. Methods An online survey of California pharmacists was distributed in a pharmacy organization’s weekly newsletter and posted on the organization’s website for three months. Paper surveys were delivered to various pharmacies. Data collected included metrics, pharmacists’ perceptions of metrics related to patient safety, errors, satisfaction with time for tasks, workplace conduciveness to safe and effective patient care (all 5-point Likert scales), and job satisfaction (0 = completely dissatisfied and 10 = completely satisfied). Statistical analyses among sites were conducted using Fisher’s Exact, Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results Majority (71%, n = 76) reported metrics in their pharmacy except for compounding and independent pharmacists. Top metrics included prescriptions filled, dispensing time, and patient wait time. Grocery/mass merchandiser pharmacists were less satisfied with time to complete their tasks (p = 0.37). Compounding/independent pharmacists most strongly agreed that their worksite was conducive to providing safe and effective patient care (p < 0.001). Median job satisfaction was 8 (7, 9) for pharmacists in pharmacies with metrics and 9 (8, 10) for those without metrics (p = 0.01). Conclusion Most community and outpatient pharmacies use performance metrics. Pharmacists who work in settings with metrics may have less job satisfaction. Future studies should compare pharmacists’ perceptions of metrics on patient safety and error rates using larger sample sizes.
|
|---|