A multistep approach and executive summary assessing and addressing workforce satisfaction and retention of the oncology pharmacy workforce

Introduction

Hematology/oncology pharmacists work in various roles in healthcare systems and represent a highly skilled and valuable resource. There remains a significant challenge in the recruitment and retention of these well-trained pharmacists. We sought to identify key factors and propose solutions to impact the ability to recruit, promote, and retain pharmacists.

Methods

An initial survey in 2021 assessed the status of the oncology pharmacist workforce with regard to job satisfaction and attrition risk. Based on the top 5 factors identified in the Initial Survey, a Follow-Up Survey was conducted in 2022 to further understand top dissatisfiers in the workplace. To address these factors, an in-person collaborative workshop was conducted in 2023 with a focus on creating action plans around the practice model, professional development, well-being, and metrics.

Results

A total of 392 individuals participated in the Follow-Up Survey. Most were 31–40 years of age (56%), female (70%), Caucasian (78%), and from academic medical centers (68%). Of the 367 individuals who responded to factors contributing to dissatisfaction at work, 51 of the respondents selected all five factors. The most common factor was the practice model (77%), followed by burnout/well-being (74%), leadership (62%), professional development (56%), and metrics (32%). At the workshop, teams worked collaboratively to review detailed data, evaluate root causes, define a goal future state, and build recommendations for incremental steps to pursue progress in each of these areas.

Discussion

Utilizing key information learned from both the Initial and Follow-Up Survey, the Oncology Pharmacy Workforce Collaborative demonstrated that the key themes are interconnected and institutional support is essential in modernizing practice models, revamping professional development, creating better measures of direct and indirect patient care activities, and ensuring effective support for well-being.