Perceived Mental Health of Student Pharmacists Working in Community Settings During the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy

Abstract

Specific Aim: To describe the self-perceived impact of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic on the mental health of student pharmacists working in community settings during the pandemic. Methods: This qualitative study obtained data through 30-minute semi-structured, audio-recorded, interviews conducted in July 2022 with 18 students enrolled in the University of Arizona Doctor of Pharmacy program who worked at a community pharmacy during the pandemic. The audio-recordings were transcribed for qualitative analysis. Two researchers conducted independent reviews of each transcript and formed codes. Code lists were reconciled with a 90% agreement. Results: Three themes were identified from the transcripts. Theme 1 was “stress”: represented by the quote: “I felt extremely stressed”. Theme 2 was: "change of future career goals”, represented by the quote: “I want to proceed with post-graduations”. Theme 3 was “exhaustion due to staffing shortages”, represented by the quote: “We were understaffed, so when we had to go back to school, managing all the workload was very stressful in the pharmacy”. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the overall mental health of student pharmacists working in community settings. While some student pharmacists viewed it as an area to improve the pharmacy as the first point of contact during the pandemic, others thought of this as an opportunity to strengthen their resolve. Students persevered through a challenging environment and continued to effectively manage school and work.