Evaluating Stress Level and Its Effect on the Quality of Life among Pharmacists Working in Baghdad Teaching Hospitals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54133/ajms.v8i1.1661Keywords:
Pharmacists, Baghdad, Iraq, Quality of life, StressAbstract
Background: The evolving role of pharmacists has shifted from mere medication dispensing to comprehensive patient care, increasing work demands and stress levels among pharmacy professionals. Meanwhile, stress can deteriorate pharmacists' quality of life (QOL) and affect the quality of services they provide. Objective: To assess the level and determinants of stress and its consequences among pharmacists in Baghdad's hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based design was employed, targeting 150 pharmacists across nine teaching hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq. Participants' stress levels and QOL were assessed using already validated questionnaires, the Perceived Stress Scale and the WHOQOL-BREF, respectively. Results: Approximately 80% of participating pharmacists reported experiencing moderate levels of stress, with overtime work identified as a significant contributing factor. Despite the stress, over half of the participants expressed satisfaction with their overall health and QOL. Notably, stress levels showed an inverse correlation with QOL indicators, including physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental factors. Conclusions: Iraqi pharmacists who work in Baghdad hospitals suffer from a moderate level of stress. Working for extra hours can exacerbate stress. Pharmacists' job stress can negatively reduce their QOL.
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