PHARMACISTS’ PRACTICE CHARACTERISTICS, JOB SATISFACTION AND INTENTION TO QUIT: A REGIONAL SURVEY OF PHARMACISTS IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

ONUZULIKE IFEOMA¹, AGUIYI-IKEANYI CHINELO2 , UGOCHUKWU EZINWANNE³, ADIBE

MAXWELL OGOCHUKWU², UBAKA CHUKWUEMEKA MICHAEL^2,4

Department of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Department of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria Medical Center, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
The Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Care Research Group, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State,

Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Job satisfaction and intention to leave one’s job are negatively associated. The brain drain of qualified and young

health professionals in Nigeria has continued at an alarmingly increasing rate. This study sought to evaluate the

extent of Nigerian pharmacists’ job satisfaction and intention to quit their current jobs. Pharmacists from three

purposively sampled states (Ebonyi, Enugu and Anambra) in the South Eastern region of Nigeria were approached

to complete the 32-item questionnaire measuring their demographic and practice characteristics as well as the

constructs of job satisfaction and intention to quit their current jobs. Responses were subjected to descriptive and

regression statistics. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Exactly 805 pharmacists completed the survey of

which 57.1% were males. The satisfaction rate of pharmacists in this setting was 77.2% across all states and they

expressed more satisfaction with their teammates at their workplace (89%), quality of service (85%) and work

balance (85%). Pharmacists were least satisfied with their monthly salaries (53.3%) and office environment (66%).

Nearly half of the pharmacists (47.3%) expressed the intention to quit their current jobs with a third opting to leave

the country. Female pharmacists expressed greater odds of satisfaction with their jobs than males as well as those

who were least experienced (p<0.001). However, age and the possession of a post graduate degree were

significant predictors of pharmacists’ intention to quit their jobs (p<0.001). Pharmacists in South Eastern Nigeria

were generally satisfied with their current jobs but also expressed desire to quit their jobs for another. Factors such

as age, gender and work experience significantly contributed to responses to job satisfaction and intention to quit.

Email of correspondence: chukwuemeka.ubaka@unn.edu.ng

KEYWORDS: Intention to quit; Nigeria; Patients; Pharmacy practice; Satisfaction.