Assessment of job satisfaction among community pharmacists in Baghdad, Iraq: a cross-sectional study

Background

Pharmacists have the unique position of providing safe and effective care. Hence, addressing their feelings about their working life is crucial to provide good pharmacy services.

Objective

this study aimed to assess job satisfaction among Iraqi community pharmacists and determine the effect of pharmacist characteristics on job satisfaction.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among community pharmacists in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. A simple random sample technique was adopted to select community pharmacists. A survey questionnaire using Warr-Cook-Wall satisfaction scale (ranging from extremely dissatisfied to extremely satisfied) was used to assess job satisfaction.

Results

Community pharmacists experienced moderate satisfaction with their jobs. The mean satisfaction score for all pharmacists was 20.4 (SD 3.7). The lowest mean scores occurred for recognition (1.4; SD 0.7), public respect (1.8; SD 0.9), and pharmacy regulations (1.9; SD 0.9). Job satisfaction was significantly affected by pharmacist characteristics, including gender (p<0.001), age (p<0.001), degree level (p=0.003), years in practice (p<0.001), working patterns (p< 0.001), and working hours (p<0.001). Regression analysis indicated pharmacist gender and age had the highest effect on job satisfaction, while, years in practice, working hours, and working pattern had the lowest effect.

Conclusions

Community pharmacists expressed moderate satisfaction with their jobs with satisfaction levels being affected by gender, age, years in practice, working patterns, and working hours. New strategies will require support for Iraqi pharmacists by the Ministry of Health and Syndicate of Iraqi Pharmacists before being included in extended pharmacy services.

Comparison of two assays in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis: immunological and molecular

Serological tests for Toxoplasma gondii are inadequate because antibody production either fails or is significantly delayed. This study in eastern Iraq investigated the IgG-avidity ELISA test for detecting recent T. gondii infections among pregnant women and compared immunological methods and PCR as molecular assays in the diagnosis of T. gondii. Serums samples were taken from 130 pregnant women at risk of toxoplasmosis and a control group of 25 women with normal pregnancy. Of 50 IgM- and/or IgG-positive samples, only 15 showed low IgG-avidity antibodies. PCR was performed on 25 selected samples. Toxoplasma DNA was detected in 15/15 IgM-positive with low IgG-avidity and 1/3 IgM-positive with high IgG-avidity. None of the IgM-negative with high IgG-avidity showed any Toxoplasma DNA. ELISA IgG-avidity when used in combination with ELISA IgG/IgM is a valuable assay for the exclusion of ongoing or recently acquired T. gondii infection in pregnant women.

Spectrophotometric study of the photodecomposition kinetics of nifedipine

Nifedipine is a photosensitive compound. Irradiation for 4 h under a fluorescent lamp placed 30 cm from a solution of nifedipine in 95% ethanol leads to complete photo-oxidation as determined spectrophotometrically. The disappearance of the reduced form and appearance of the oxidized form is best described by zero-order kinetics at concentrations higher than 4 x 10(-4) M. At lower concentrations pseudo-first order kinetics are followed. Monochromatic irradiation of nifedipine at wavelengths 400 to 700 nm in 25 nm increments showed no change in the absorbance at 280 nm, and, except for a hyperchromic effect at 237 nm, no other spectral changes were observed. Its photo-oxidation was dependent on the intensity of light and increased exponentially as solutions were irradiated progressively closer to a fluorescent light source. The pH studies showed that aqueous solutions of nifedipine photo-oxidized fastest at pH 2.