Changing patterns of the prevalence of burnout and secondary traumatic stress in health‐system pharmacists throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION: The demands posed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic have led to greater stress and frustration, which in turn can fuel exhaustion, cynicism, secondary traumatic stress (STS), and burnout. More evidence is needed regarding the prevalence of burnout and STS throughout the pandemic. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the changing pattern of the prevalence of burnout and STS in health‐system pharmacists throughout the pandemic (early to 20 months into the pandemic). METHODS: A cross‐sectional, listserv‐based online survey was conducted in health‐system pharmacists. The survey was administered between April and May 2020 (early group) and again between October and December 2021 (20‐month group). The survey questionnaire included demographics, employment characteristics, COVID‐19‐related questions, survey of respondent's perceptions of prevalence and severity of burnout, and Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) which assessed compassion satisfaction and fatigue (burnout and STS). RESULTS: A total of 1126 health‐system pharmacists completed the survey (484 in the early group and 642 in the 20‐month group). Based on respondents' self‐rating of burnout, significantly more respondents reported feeling burned out in the 20‐month group vs the early group (69% vs 47.7%; P < .001). Based on ProQOL, significantly more respondents were identified with moderate–high likelihood of burnout (83.8% vs 65.3%; P < .001) and moderate–high probability of STS (63.2% vs 51.4%; P < .001) in the 20‐month group vs the early group. Approximately 99% of respondents in both groups were identified with moderate–high probability of compassion satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Twenty months into the COVID‐19 pandemic, almost 83% of health‐system pharmacist respondents were identified with burnout, 63% with STS, and 99% with compassion satisfaction. These rates are significantly higher compared with rates early in the pandemic. Unfortunately, the development of burnout and STS in these pharmacists may lead to several work‐related consequences (eg, increase risk of medical errors); therefore, further studies are critical to develop and assess effective interventions to address the long‐term effects of the pandemic and well‐being of health‐system pharmacists.