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MPharm students’ response to pharmacy staff shortages during lockdown

Abstract Introduction During the first lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacy students, particularly those with previous experience, were encouraged to help address staff shortages in pharmacy practice (1). Aim This study investigated the response of pharmacy students at Keele University to the request for help to address staff shortages in practice during lockdown. Methods An online survey using Google Forms was developed based on addressing the aim of the study and a working knowledge of pharmacy practice. The survey was piloted on academic pharmacists, and after minor amendments, was disseminated to all students in years 2, 3 and 4 of the MPharm course, along with a participant information sheet. Questions regarding consent were incorporated into the Google Form. The survey consisted of a range of question types: tick-box, Likert scale, multiple-choice and free text. A reminder email was sent out to increase response rate. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 24.0. Results The online survey was distributed to 352 students. A total of 106 responses were collected; providing a response rate of 30.1%. Fifty-nine (55.7%) of these students did not undertake paid employment in a pharmacy during lockdown, compared to 47 (44.3%) who did. Of the 47 who did, most obtained paid employment in a community pharmacy (n=42; 89%), the rest in hospital. Seventy percent of respondents (n = 74) had undertaken work experience in a community pharmacy prior to lockdown. A number of reasons were given for choosing not to work in a pharmacy, including needing time to study for exams or living with a vulnerable family member, but the most frequent reason reported (40.7%) was that students found it difficult to find work. For those students who did work in a pharmacy during lockdown, the reported reasons varied, with the most frequent being to gain experience (n = 35; 74.5%), followed by a sense of duty to help the community (n=31; 66.0%). The time spent working ranged from 8 to 40 hours per week. The majority of students reported working in the dispensary and on the medicines counter, undertaking a wide range of activities. Final year students and those who had previously undertaken work experience in a pharmacy were statistically more likely to obtain paid employment during lockdown. Perceived advantages to working during lockdown included the opportunity to improve communication and clinical skills and apply theory to practice, as well as being able to ‘give back’ to the community. 97.9% (n= 46) reported feeling under pressure whilst working, although 72.3% (n=34) reported that they enjoyed working despite this. Conclusion Pharmacy students had various reasons for choosing to work in practice or not during lockdown. Those who did work reported benefiting from the experience in a number of ways. This suggests that pharmacy students with prior experience of pharmacy working, should be encouraged to offer their support in times of staff shortages if future lockdowns occur. Reference (1) Supporting the COVID-19 response: Joint Guidance: Facilitating deployment of pharmacy undergraduate students to support the pharmacy workforce. Health Education England, NHS Education for Scotland, Health Education and Improvement Wales, Pharmacy Schools Council, Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association. 09 April 2020, pp.1–9. Available at: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/MPharm%20student%20deployment%20joint%20guidance%20FINAL.pdf [Accessed 14 October 2021].