Job satisfaction, work commitment and intention to leave among pharmacists: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: We assessed job satisfaction, work commitment and intention to leave among pharmacists working in different healthcare settings in Saudi Arabia. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study utilising a previously validated questionnaire. SETTING: We surveyed the workforce at different healthcare settings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were pharmacists licensed by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. OUTCOME MEASURES: We examined job satisfaction, work commitment and intention to leave. RESULTS: In total, 325 out of 515 pharmacists completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 63%. Over half of them were women (57.8%), 78.2% were Saudi Arabian nationals and 61.8% were married. The majority (88.1%) worked between 36 and 44 hours per week; 96.6% were full-time employees, and 63.4% were government employees working in public hospitals or primary healthcare centres. Although most of the pharmacists were satisfied (satisfied and slightly satisfied) with their current job (39.1% and 24.6%, respectively), about two-thirds (61.9%) had the intention to leave. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the most important predictors of pharmacists’ intentions to leave were related to job satisfaction and work commitment (OR=0.923; 95% CI 0.899 to 0.947; p<0.001 and OR=1.044; 95% CI 1.014 to 1.08; p=0.004, respectively), whereas respondents’ demographic characteristics had no effect. CONCLUSIONS: Although the pharmacists surveyed were satisfied and committed to their current job, they had the intention to leave. Further research is recommended to clarify why pharmacists in Saudi Arabia have the intention to leave their pharmacy practice job.