Work styles and career development of hospital pharmacists in Japan: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Objectives: Hospital pharmacists play vital roles in patient care, with career satisfaction influenced by work environment, career advancement opportunities and personal aspirations. Addressing these factors in Japan is essential to attract and retain hospital pharmacists. This study aimed to identify factors associated with hospital pharmacists' satisfaction with their current careers in Japan.

Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey was distributed through the Japanese Society of Hospital Pharmacists website, journal and newsletter. Responses were collected from 14 June to 31 July 2024, using Google Forms. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the association between career satisfaction and individual-related factors, including background, work style and environment.

Results: Of the 712 respondents, 710 provided consent for analysis. Pharmacists in their 30s, 40s and 50s reported significantly higher career satisfaction than those in their 20s (OR: 2.311, 95% CI: 1.323 to 4.038; OR: 2.148, 95% CI: 1.128 to 4.092; and OR: 2.077, 95% CI: 1.048 to 4.116, respectively). Conversely, mid-level and senior managerial roles and certifications were associated with lower satisfaction (OR: 0.354, 95% CI: 0.200 to 0.627; OR: 0.258, 95% CI: 0.158 to 0.421; and OR: 0.668, 95% CI: 0.478 to 0.934, respectively).

Conclusions: Structured mentorship programmes, financial support for advanced training and systems to reduce workload and improve flexibility could enhance career satisfaction among hospital pharmacists in Japan.