Pharmacists in a liberalised system — results from a profession-wide survey in Iceland

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Abstract
Background: The study reported here was part of a multi-study evaluation of new drug distribution legislation in Iceland. Objective: The objective of this sub-study was to compare the satisfaction of community pharmacists and pharmacists in other settings with regard to their job in general, importance of the job, work hours, contact with patients, and responsibility. Method: A questionnaire survey was constructed, pilot tested, and mailed to all pharmacists belonging to professional societies in Iceland in March 1999. Key findings: The results show an inconsistency in whether general job satisfaction was correlated with respondents' perception of the job's importance and responsibility, more so for community pharmacists than others. Overall job satisfaction was quite high and community pharmacists felt that their contact with customers was satisfactory. However, they were more dissatisfied with their work hours, importance of their work, and responsibility than other pharmacists. Conclusion: Community pharmacists have been affected more adversely by the legislative change than their colleagues in other work settings.