ABSTRACT
This study was an attempt to identify the extent and aetiology of stress in community pharmacy and the effect it was having on job satisfaction and general well-being of pharmacists. Compared with other workers, pharmacists studied were experiencing considerable levels of stress at work especially from factors intrinsic to their jobs and their management role. Factor analysis of pharmacy specific stressors revealed four major causes of stress: daily demands of the job and dealing with patients, the professional role, counter prescribing and time pressures. The pharmacists seemed to derive considerable satisfaction from their work, especially when dealing with people. The most dissatisfied were aged under 31 years, working for a large multiple and in their present job for fewer than five years. Possible reasons for these findings and suggestions for change are discussed
