The Impact of Providing Pharmaceutical Care on Work Satisfaction of Pharmacists in Poland—A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Pharmaceutical care in European countries is at various stages of development. Although the problem of occupational burnout affects many professions, it is particularly relevant among healthcare workers, such as pharmacists. Studies assessing pharmacists’ life satisfaction and factors influencing the level of occupational burnout play an important role in social pharmacy. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of providing pharmaceutical care on the professional life satisfaction of pharmacists in Poland. This study was conducted as an anonymous online survey. It included pharmacists who are members of the professional self-government in Poland. A custom-designed questionnaire was used for data collection, and 91 completed questionnaires were obtained. The respondents were divided into four groups according to their professional experience: up to 5 years, 6–10 years, 11–20 years, and over 20 years. In response to questions regarding job satisfaction and the willingness to provide pharmaceutical care, the respondents gave affirmative answers. Pharmacists in Poland have a positive perception of the impact of pharmaceutical care on the prestige of their profession. Currently, the pharmaceutical care services most commonly provided are those financed by the State; however, pharmacists are willing to engage in such activities and expect an expansion of the scope of reimbursed services. Consequently, pharmacists express dissatisfaction with the current stage of pharmaceutical care implementation in Poland. Those who provide pharmaceutical care feel more appreciated in their profession, do not experience psychological strain, do not feel uncomfortable when communicating with patients, and are not afraid of the responsibility associated with providing such services. Nevertheless, they consider it an additional workload in their professional duties.

1. Introduction

Pharmacists in Poland officially joined the group of medical professions in 2020, following the enactment of the Act on the Profession of Pharmacist. Previously, the profession had been regarded as a paramedical occupation. At the same time, the profession of pharmacist is classified as a profession of public trust [1].

The inclusion of pharmacists among medical professionals initiated the implementation of pharmaceutical care in Poland, which, under this Act, was recognized as a healthcare service, comparable to those provided by physicians and hospitals [1].

1.1. Pharmaceutical Care

In 2022, a pilot program for one of the pharmaceutical care services—the medication review—was conducted in Poland, organized by the Ministry of Health. A total of 75 community pharmacies across the country were qualified to participate in the pilot. The medication review consisted of three stages, and patients eligible for this service were required to meet specific criteria, including being over 60 years of age and using at least five prescription medicines. The service was free of charge for patients, while pharmacists received remuneration of PLN 100 (EUR 23.40) for completing a full medication review for one patient [2].

During the pilot, medication reviews were conducted for 850 patients. A comprehensive report summarizing the program was subsequently published [3]; however, the conclusions drawn from it were insufficient for the Polish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariffication (Agencja Oceny Technologii Medycznych i Taryfikacji, AOTM) to approve the inclusion of this service in community pharmacies as a state-funded healthcare benefit [4].

Despite the lack of state funding for pharmaceutical care in Poland, pharmacists did not give up. Supported by the academic pharmaceutical community and the Polish Pharmaceutical Society, they began developing standards and guidelines for the implementation of various pharmaceutical care services.

To date, seven sets of guidelines have been published, covering the following services: medication review [5], new medicine service [6], consultation for minor ailments [7], blood pressure measurement [8], measurement of basic anthropometric parameters [9], emergency contraception [10], and post-hospital pharmaceutical care [11].

Currently, the only pharmaceutical care services funded by the state in Poland are vaccinations performed in community pharmacies by pharmacists [12] and the emergency contraception pilot program [13]. The vaccination service has been priced at PLN 33.37 (EUR 7.80) per patient, while the emergency contraception service is valued at PLN 50 (EUR 11.70) per consultation. These amounts are paid to pharmacists, whereas the services are free of charge for patients [12,13].

1.2. Professional Qualifications

Pharmaceutical studies in Poland last five years and conclude with a six-month professional internship in a community pharmacy. Upon completion of this program, graduates obtain the full right to practice the profession, granted by the professional self-governing body. In Poland, the profession of pharmacist is predominantly performed by women, who constitute 83.5% of all pharmacists [14].

Pharmacists in Poland may pursue further education, such as postgraduate studies in various scientific fields or specialization programs designed exclusively for pharmacists. These specialization programs conclude with an examination and the award of a specialist title. Pharmacists employed in community pharmacies most commonly choose specialization in community pharmacy, whereas those working in hospital pharmacies opt for hospital pharmacy or clinical pharmacy specialization [15]. Such forms of further education are not mandatory for pharmacists and are not publicly funded; therefore, pharmacists must cover the costs out of their own resources.

Career advancement in the pharmacy profession in Poland includes, among other things, taking on the position of pharmacy manager. To become the manager of a community pharmacy, a minimum of five years of professional experience in a pharmacy is required. In contrast, to assume the position of hospital pharmacy manager, a pharmacist must have two years of experience in a hospital pharmacy and hold the specialist title in hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, or community pharmacy. The professional self-governing body of pharmacists confirms these qualifications, thereby guaranteeing the proper management and operation of the pharmacy [16].

Since pharmaceutical care is still in the implementation phase in Poland, the present study aimed to assess the impact of providing pharmaceutical care on job satisfaction among pharmacists in Poland. The study sought to answer several key questions, including whether pharmacists, despite the lack of state funding, currently provide pharmaceutical care in Poland; whether they receive remuneration for such services; whether they are satisfied with the current stage of pharmaceutical care implementation; whether they expect its scope to be expanded; and how, in their perception, pharmaceutical care affects and will affect their professional satisfaction. This is an innovative study, as no previous research of this kind has been conducted in Poland to date.

2. Materials and Methods

This study included pharmacists who are members of the professional self-governing body in Poland, encompassing all 20 District Pharmacy Chambers. The criteria for participation in the study were the consent of the presidents of these chambers to distribute the questionnaire among pharmacists belonging to their jurisdiction, as well as the possibility of conducting the study free of charge.

The survey questionnaire was electronic, and its completion took approximately 10 min. It was sent to the presidents of all 20 District Pharmacy Chambers in Poland with a request to distribute it among all pharmacists belonging to the professional self-governing organization (membership in the professional chamber is mandatory for all pharmacists in Poland).

To avoid multiple submissions of the questionnaire by the same respondent, which could distort the results, the request was sent only once. Three out of the twenty District Pharmacy Chambers published information about the survey, along with a link to the questionnaire, on their official websites [17,18,19]. All completed questionnaires were included in the analysis, as they contained complete data. In total, 91 questionnaires were completed.

For the purposes of this study, an original electronic questionnaire was developed based on a recognized survey design manual [20]. The objective of the measurement was defined as the assessment of the impact of providing pharmaceutical care on the job satisfaction of pharmacists in Poland. The content of the questions was formulated in accordance with the Act on the Profession of Pharmacist, which outlines the scope of pharmaceutical care services [1]. For most questions, a closed-ended format was chosen to ensure objectivity. Two five-point Likert scales were applied: the first included the options “definitely yes,” “rather yes,” “hard to say,” “rather no,” and “definitely no”; the second included “always,” “very often,” “I don’t know,” “sometimes,” and “never.”

In accordance with the expert judgment method, the developed set of questions was evaluated by three experts representing the following professions: two pharmacists and one survey specialist in the field of health sciences. Their assessment allowed for verification of the test items in terms of linguistic accuracy and for determining their substantive validity. To assess the degree of agreement among the experts, the Lawshe Content Relevance Ratio (CVR) was applied. The questionnaire was therefore validated by competent judges. The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 36 questions, including 29 closed-ended and 7 open-ended items.

The final stage involved preparing the electronic version of the questionnaire to facilitate responses from participants. The final version included: the title of the questionnaire, information on the purpose of the study, a data protection clause, instructions for completing the survey, and a section for entering sociometric data.

After the final version of the questionnaire was developed, it was submitted to the Bioethics Committee of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin for confirmation that the study did not constitute a medical experiment (KB.006.023.2025).

The obtained results were subjected to nonparametric statistical analysis using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Effects with a p-value below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistica data analysis software package, version 13 (TIBCO Software Inc., 2017, San Ramon, CA 94583 USA).

3. Results

A total of 91 questionnaires were completed. A considerable diversity of responses to individual questions was observed among respondents with varying lengths of professional experience as pharmacists.

To illustrate, based on the study results, the impact of providing pharmaceutical care on the professional quality of life of pharmacists in Poland, respondents were divided into four groups according to their answers to Question 4, which concerned the number of years worked in the pharmacy profession. The following four groups were distinguished: up to 5 years, 6–10 years, 11–20 years, and more than 20 years of professional experience.

The division of groups according to length of service took into account the requirements of the Pharmaceutical Law, according to which—pursuant to Article 88(2)(1)—a community pharmacy manager must have at least five years of professional experience in a community pharmacy [16].

In the study, women constituted 76% of all respondents. Additionally, 89% of participants worked in community pharmacies, 8% in hospital pharmacies, and 3% in other workplaces, such as pharmaceutical wholesalers, hospital pharmacy departments, or drug analysis laboratories. Among the respondents, 58% held the position of pharmacy manager, 36% worked as pharmacists, and 6% occupied other positions, including pharmacy owner or manager of a pharmaceutical wholesaler.

Among the pharmacists who completed the questionnaire, 38% held a specialist title, including 9% in the group with 6–10 years of professional experience, 34% in the group with 11–20 years, and 68% among those who had been practicing for more than 20 years. Pharmacists with up to 5 years of professional experience did not hold a specialization, as obtaining the specialist title requires at least three years of postgraduate training.

Respondents also indicated that they had completed additional postgraduate studies and training in areas such as professional pharmaceutical care, pharmaceutical care in geriatrics, human capital management, industrial pharmacy, diabetology, management and pedagogy, vaccination organization, diagnostic testing, and the “New Medicine” service.

When assessing responses to the question regarding the decision to choose pharmacy studies again, differences were observed among groups with varying professional experience. Pharmacists who had been practicing for more than 20 years most frequently responded that they would not choose the profession again, while those with 6–10 years of experience most often declared that they would once again choose pharmacy studies (

Table 1. Percentage distribution of responses to questions concerning the practice of the pharmacy profession.

The question: If you could choose your field of study again, would you choose pharmacy?
Work experience as a pharmacist	Up to 5 years	6 to 10 years	11 to 20 years	More than 20 years
definitely yes	7%	36%	19%	15%
rather yes	29%	9%	16%	15%
hard to say	29%	27%	24%	24%
rather no	7%	19%	19%	23%
definitely no	28%	9%	22%	23%
The question: Are you satisfied with the pharmacy profession you practice?
Work experience as a pharmacist	Up to 5 years	6 to 10 years	11 to 20 years	More than 20 years
definitely yes	14%	18%	9%	18%
rather yes	44%	46%	48%	46%
hard to say	21%	27%	25%	24%
rather no	7%	0%	9%	9%
definitely no	14%	9%	9%	3%
The question: Do you think that the scope of pharmaceutical care in Poland should be expanded?
Work experience as a pharmacist	Up to 5 years	6 to 10 years	11 to 20 years	More than 20 years
definitely yes	93%	55%	53%	44%
rather yes	7%	9%	19%	29%
hard to say	0%	18%	13%	12%
rather no	0%	9%	9%	9%
definitely no	0%	9%	6%	6%
The question: Do you think that the possibility of providing pharmaceutical care services adds prestige to the pharmacy profession?
Work experience as a pharmacist	Up to 5 years	6 to 10 years	11 to 20 years	More than 20 years
definitely yes	65%	55%	63%	47%
rather yes	21%	27%	13%	29%
hard to say	7%	0%	9%	12%
rather no	7%	0%	9%	9%
definitely no	0%	18%	6%	3%

).

When analyzing responses to the question about job satisfaction, differences were also observed among groups with varying lengths of professional experience. Regardless of years of practice, however, the majority of pharmacists responded affirmatively, indicating that they are satisfied with their profession (Table 1).

When assessing the responses to the question regarding the expansion of the scope of pharmaceutical care in Poland, differences were observed among groups with varying lengths of professional experience as pharmacists. Respondents with the shortest professional experience, i.e., less than five years, most frequently expressed the expectation that the scope of pharmaceutical care in Poland should be expanded (Table 1).

When analyzing the responses to the question concerning the increase in the prestige of the pharmacy profession in Poland through the ability to provide pharmaceutical care services, differences were also observed among groups with different lengths of professional experience. Regardless of years of practice, the majority of pharmacists responded affirmatively, indicating that the provision of pharmaceutical care services contributes to the enhancement of the prestige of the pharmacy profession (Table 1).

In the conducted study, 22% of pharmacists confirmed that they provide pharmaceutical care services in pharmacies. Among the respondents, the most frequently performed service was vaccination (28%), followed by patient consultations (20%), issuing prescriptions as a continuation of a doctor’s order (16%), participation in the emergency contraception pilot program (16%), provision of the “New Medicine” service (10%), and medication reviews (10%). None of the respondents indicated developing an individual pharmaceutical care plan (0%) or performing selected diagnostic tests to assess therapy and analyze drug-related problems (0%) (

Table 2. Percentage distribution of responses to questions concerning the types of pharmaceutical care services provided.

Pharmaceutical Care Services Provided by the Survey Respondents		Which Pharmaceutical Care Services Would You Like to Provide?
Vaccinations	28%	9%
Patient consultations	20%	19%
Issuing prescriptions as part of the continuation of a medical order	16%	18%
Emergency contraception pilot program	16%	4%
Provision of the “New Medicine” service	10%	8%
Medication reviews	10%	19%
Developing an individual pharmaceutical care plan	0%	9%
Performing selected diagnostic tests	0%	14%

).

Among pharmacists who currently do not provide pharmaceutical care, 80% expressed willingness to deliver such services in the future, specifically in the following areas: patient consultations (19%), medication reviews (19%), vaccinations (9%), developing an individual pharmaceutical care plan (9%), performing selected diagnostic tests to assess therapy and analyze drug-related problems (14%), issuing prescriptions as a continuation of a doctor’s order (18%), participation in the emergency contraception pilot program (4%), and provision of the “New Medicine” service (8%) (Table 2).

Among the pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care, 70% receive additional remuneration for these services, of whom 69% earn less than PLN 30 (EUR 7.05) per service, while 31% receive between PLN 31 (EUR 7.28) and PLN 60 (EUR 14.09) per service. Pharmacists reported providing pharmaceutical care services to between 1 and 12 patients per week. In the case of vaccinations performed in pharmacies, the number of patients using this service during the vaccination season reaches up to 150 per month.

Among the pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care, when asked whether they feel more appreciated in their profession as a result of providing such care, 40% responded “definitely yes”, 45%—“rather yes”, 5%—“hard to say”, 10%—“rather no”, and none selected “definitely no”. In response to the question of whether pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care feel mentally burdened, 40% answered “definitely no”, 15%—“rather no”, 30%—“hard to say”, 10%—“rather yes”, and 5%—“definitely yes” (

Table 3. Percentage distribution of responses to questions concerning the provision of pharmaceutical care.

The question: Do you feel more appreciated in your profession as a result of providing pharmaceutical care?
Answer	definitely yes	rather yes	hard to say	rather no	definitely no
	40%	45%	5%	10%	0%
The question: Do you feel mentally burdened when providing pharmaceutical care?
Answer	definitely yes	rather yes	hard to say	rather no	definitely no
	5%	10%	30%	15%	40%

).

Pharmacists were also asked whether they feel uncomfortable when talking to a patient. In response, 65% indicated “never”, 23%—“sometimes”, 9%—“I don’t know”, 2%—“very often”, and 1%—“always”. When asked whether pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care refer patients to a doctor, 2% answered “always”, 19%—“very often”, 45%—“I don’t know”, 33%—“sometimes”, and 1%—“never” (

Table 4. Percentage distribution of responses to questions concerning cooperation with the patient.

The question: Do you feel uncomfortable when talking to a patient?
Answer	always	very often	I don’t know	sometimes	never
	1%	2%	9%	23%	65%
The question: Do you refer patients to a doctor when providing pharmaceutical care?
Answer	always	very often	I don’t know	sometimes	never
	2%	19%	45%	33%	1%

).

When asked whether providing pharmaceutical care constitutes an additional workload, 35% of respondents answered “definitely yes”, 20%—“rather yes”, 15%—“hard to say”, 10%—“rather no”, and 20%—“definitely no”. In response to the question of whether pharmacists fear the responsibility associated with providing pharmaceutical care, 8% answered “definitely yes”, 14%—“rather yes”, 21%—“hard to say”, 26%—“rather no”, and 31%—“definitely no” (

Table 5. Percentage distribution of responses to questions concerning the impact of pharmaceutical care on professional work.

\
Answer	definitely yes	rather yes	hard to say	rather no	definitely no
	35%	20%	15%	10%	20%
The question: Do you fear the responsibility associated with providing pharmaceutical care?
Answer	definitely yes	rather yes	hard to say	rather no	definitely no
	8%	14%	21%	26%	31%
The question: Does providing pharmaceutical care give you additional professional satisfaction?
Answer	definitely yes	rather yes	hard to say	rather no	definitely no
	60%	25%	15%	0%	0%
The question: Are you satisfied with the current stage of implementing pharmaceutical care in Poland?
Answer	definitely yes	rather yes	hard to say	rather no	definitely no
	5%	10%	30%	35%	20%

).

Pharmacists were also asked whether, after a patient visit, they prepare or complete documentation at home, outside of working hours—95% responded “no (never)”. When asked whether providing pharmaceutical care gives them additional professional satisfaction, 60% answered “definitely yes”, 25%—“rather yes”, 15%—“hard to say”, and none selected “rather no” or “definitely no” (Table 5).

The final question of the survey concerned satisfaction with the current stage of implementing pharmaceutical care in Poland. Among the respondents, 5% answered “definitely yes”, 10%—“rather yes”, 30%—“hard to say”, 35%—“rather no”, and 20%—“definitely no” (Table 5).

4. Discussion

This study was conducted among pharmacists in Poland to assess the impact of providing pharmaceutical care on their job satisfaction. The survey questionnaire was distributed through the professional self-governing organization, i.e., the District Pharmacy Chambers. As described above, the applied methodology enabled the development of a unique and methodologically sound research tool in the form of an electronic questionnaire.

According to data from the Central Statistical Office of Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny, GUS), as of 31 December 2023, a total of 25,701 individuals with a Master’s of Pharmacy (pharmacists) were employed in community pharmacies in Poland [21]. In total, 91 questionnaires were completed and analyzed: 14 by pharmacists with up to 5 years of professional experience, 11 by those with 6–10 years, 32 by those with 11–20 years, and 34 by pharmacists with more than 20 years of professional experience.

This categorization was based on the requirements specified in the Pharmaceutical Law, which allowed for a more accurate comparison of responses across groups according to years of experience and for the identification of possible correlations between professional experience and the quality of work life.

The vast majority of respondents were women, who accounted for 76% of the total study population. This result is consistent with data from the Central Statistical Office of Poland (GUS), according to which, as of 31 December 2023, women constituted 83.5% of all pharmacists employed in community pharmacies and pharmacy outlets [14].

4.1. Job Satisfaction Among Pharmacists in Poland

The results of this study were compared with data from other countries, allowing for an analysis of job burnout and job satisfaction among pharmacists, as well as the formulation of further conclusions. An important point of reference was the situation in Northern Ireland, where a study showed that only 23% of pharmacists would choose their profession again [22].

In comparison, the present study revealed certain differences, particularly evident when analyzed according to years of professional experience. As many as 46% of pharmacists with the longest work experience (over 20 years) declared that they would not choose pharmacy studies again, whereas among those with up to 5 years of professional experience, this percentage was 35%. Such a discrepancy may indicate that fatigue and frustration accumulate over time, leading to increasing dissatisfaction with the choice of profession (see Table 1).

Another important comparative aspect concerns overall job satisfaction. In Northern Ireland, half of the pharmacists surveyed (50%) expressed deep dissatisfaction with their professional lives [23]. A study conducted in the United Kingdom yielded similar results—45% of pharmacists reported that they were not satisfied with their jobs and questioned the meaning of their professional role [24]. In the present study, regardless of years of professional experience, more than 50% of respondents confirmed that they were satisfied with their profession. Although these results are somewhat more optimistic than those from Northern Ireland, the study still highlights a significant systemic issue that affects the psychological and professional well-being of pharmacists (see Table 1).

Research conducted in Turkey also provided valuable insights. It demonstrated that as pharmacists’ length of professional experience increases, their level of job burnout also rises [25]. It should be noted, however, that the results of this study indicate that the desire to choose a different field of study after more than 20 years of professional experience does not necessarily imply a lack of job satisfaction. Such responses may stem from respondents’ subjective assessment of institutional support, the assistance of the professional self-governing body in performing their duties, and their perception of the social and economic prestige associated with the pharmacy profession. This does not, however, indicate that respondents are dissatisfied with their work (see Table 1).

The results indicate that the issue of job satisfaction and professional burnout among pharmacists is a nationwide phenomenon, as the respondents represented 8 out of 16 provinces in Poland. Similar to other analyzed countries, Poland faces challenges related to the psychological burden on pharmacy employees, the lack of adequate support systems, and a low sense of professional recognition. These findings should serve as a basis for further analysis and action aimed at improving pharmacists’ working conditions and increasing their job satisfaction.

One comparative study showed that 45% of pharmacists with postgraduate education were more satisfied with their professional life, whereas among those without such education, the percentage was only 32.7% [26]. A similar trend can also be observed in the present study. The highest level of job satisfaction was recorded among pharmacists with more than 20 years of professional experience (see Table 1). Most respondents in this group held a specialist title, which may suggest a correlation between postgraduate education and the sense of professional fulfillment and job satisfaction.

Furthermore, the study conducted in Poland provided information regarding the place of employment and positions held by pharmacists. The vast majority of respondents (89%) work in community pharmacies, while only 8% are employed in hospital pharmacies. In response to the question about their position, 36% of pharmacists indicated that they serve as Masters of Pharmacy, whereas 58% perform the duties of a pharmacy manager. Two respondents declared that they are pharmacy owners, and one indicated being a manager of a pharmaceutical wholesaler.

The group of pharmacists with the shortest professional experience (up to five years) demonstrated the strongest need for expanding the scope of pharmaceutical care in Poland. This is supported by the responses to the question concerning the legitimacy of extending pharmaceutical care competencies (see Table 1). Pharmacists with the least experience most frequently advocated for such a solution. This group also exhibited the highest percentage of responses indicating a lack of job satisfaction (see Table 1) and a complete absence of specialization (as specialization training in Poland lasts three years).

These results may suggest that young pharmacists perceive the development of pharmaceutical care as a potential way to improve job satisfaction and to enhance their role and importance within the healthcare system. The findings also indicate that postgraduate education or obtaining a specialist title may contribute to increased professional satisfaction, partly due to the different, broader range of responsibilities available to pharmacists with specialization compared to those without it.

A study conducted in China revealed that many pharmacists strive to emphasize the clinical nature of their work, opposing the traditional role of the pharmacist as merely a dispenser of medicines. The limited opportunities to perform more advanced, professional competencies—particularly in the field of healthcare—contribute to a higher level of professional burnout among pharmacists [27].

In the present study, more than three-quarters of respondents agreed that the ability to provide pharmaceutical care contributes to enhancing the prestige of the pharmacy profession in Poland (see Table 1). These findings demonstrate that the vast majority of respondents recognize the significant value of developing pharmaceutical care and its positive impact on the profession’s prestige and social recognition.

In an open-ended question directed to respondents who already provide pharmaceutical care in Poland, pharmacists indicated that the main reason for their satisfaction with providing this service is that, as a result, they are no longer perceived merely as salespeople.

4.2. Provision of Pharmaceutical Care in Poland

Despite the growing awareness of its importance, pharmaceutical care remains a relatively rarely provided service in Polish pharmacies. Only 22% of respondents in the study declared that they actually provide pharmaceutical care services. The most frequently indicated service was vaccination, followed by patient consultations, issuing prescriptions as a continuation of a doctor’s order, participation in the emergency contraception pilot program, provision of the “New Medicine” service, and medication reviews. Respondents did not indicate developing individual pharmaceutical care plans or performing selected diagnostic tests to assess therapy and analyze drug-related problems (see Table 2).

These data suggest that, while the concept of pharmaceutical care is gaining popularity within the professional community, its practical implementation remains limited and requires further development as well as systemic support. At present, the most frequently provided services are those reimbursed by the National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, NFZ), i.e., vaccinations and the emergency contraception pilot program. Other services, although provided by pharmacists, are not reimbursed by the public payer in Poland.

Importantly, as many as 80% of pharmacists who declared that they do not currently provide pharmaceutical care expressed their willingness to provide such services in the future. The most frequently indicated areas included patient consultations, medication reviews, issuing prescriptions as a continuation of a doctor’s order, performing selected diagnostic tests to assess therapy and analyze drug-related problems, vaccinations, developing individual pharmaceutical care plans, and provision of the “New Medicine” service (see Table 2). One respondent also mentioned the support offered by pharmacists to patients in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and proper diet.

The least frequently declared area was the emergency contraception pilot program, which reflects a nationwide trend—only 1370 out of 11,500 community pharmacies in Poland [21] participate in the Ministry of Health’s pilot program for emergency contraception in pharmacies [28].

This demonstrates a high potential for the development of this form of service in Poland, as well as the readiness of the professional community to actively engage in expanding pharmacists’ competencies. Such a high percentage of positive declarations may also suggest that the barriers to implementing pharmaceutical care are not due to a lack of interest or commitment on the part of pharmacists, but rather to organizational, systemic, or legislative factors, including the lack of reimbursement by the National Health Fund (NFZ) for the costs associated with providing these services (see Table 2).

Respondents also indicated the number of patients covered by pharmaceutical care—the largest group consisted of patients receiving pharmacy vaccinations, reaching up to 150 per month. In contrast, for other pharmaceutical care services, the number of patients ranged from 1 to 12 per week.

In Poland, remuneration rates for pharmacists providing services under the emergency contraception program have been set at PLN 50 (EUR 11.70) per patient [13], and for administering vaccinations at PLN 33.37 (EUR 7.80) per patient [12]. The completed medication review pilot program, which involved three meetings with the patient, had a remuneration rate of PLN 100 (EUR 23.40) per patient [2].

Pharmacies may independently determine the fees for pharmaceutical services that are not reimbursed by the state, meaning that patients must cover the costs out of pocket. Alternatively, pharmacists may choose to provide such services free of charge—both situations occur in Polish pharmacies.

Respondents to the survey indicated that 70% of pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care receive remuneration for these services, with 69% earning less than PLN 30 (EUR 7.05) per service and 31% earning between PLN 31 (EUR 7.28) and PLN 60 (EUR 14.09) per service.

4.3. Pharmaceutical Care and Job Satisfaction

The vast majority of pharmacists actively providing pharmaceutical care declared that this activity makes them feel more appreciated and valued in their profession. This indicates that providing such services has a positive impact on pharmacists’ self-esteem and job satisfaction, while simultaneously emphasizing the importance of pharmaceutical care as a motivating factor that enhances the prestige of the profession (see Table 3).

More than half of the surveyed pharmacists reported that providing pharmaceutical care does not constitute a significant psychological burden, that they do not feel discomfort when talking to patients, and that they usually do not refer patients to a doctor, but rather offer assistance themselves (see Table 3 and Table 4). Respondents also acknowledged that pharmaceutical care represents an additional workload in their daily professional duties; however, they do not fear the associated responsibility (see Table 5). The documentation prepared during patient consultations is completed within the pharmacy, as pharmacists do not take work home or perform it outside of working hours (see Table 5).

As indicated, the most frequently mentioned cause of the perceived workload was that it constitutes an additional duty, which reduces the time available for other professional tasks. Other reasons included the lack of sufficient pharmacy personnel, a sense of responsibility for patients’ health and lives (including financial responsibility), insufficient support from the professional self-governing organization, and the absence of clear legal and financial regulations for most of these services. Paradoxically, despite the perceived increase in responsibility and workload, most pharmacists are able to maintain balance, which positively affects their job satisfaction, although it requires greater commitment and the ability to cope with new challenges.

As many as 85% of the surveyed pharmacists expressed the belief that providing pharmaceutical care brings them additional professional satisfaction (see Table 5). This is supported by respondents’ answers highlighting the opportunity to apply their knowledge and additional education, help patients, observe patient satisfaction, enhance the prestige of the profession, and receive additional remuneration. This underscores the important role of this professional activity in fostering positive work experiences. Importantly, none of the respondents expressed an opposing opinion, demonstrating that the development of pharmaceutical care in daily practice is widely appreciated.

In contrast, only 15% of respondents declared satisfaction with the current stage of implementing pharmaceutical care in Poland (see Table 5). This low percentage indicates a general sense of insufficiency and an expectation for faster and more effective legal solutions regulating this area of pharmacists’ professional activity within the healthcare system. This may point to the need for legislative changes and greater institutional support for pharmacists providing such services, including support from the professional self-governing organization.

4.4. Limitations

The authors’ objective was to conduct a nationwide study among pharmacists in Poland. For this reason, an electronic questionnaire was developed, as it was considered the most effective way to reach pharmacists across the country. The questionnaire was distributed to the District Pharmacy Chambers (the professional self-governing bodies), of which there are 20 in Poland, since these institutions have direct communication with all pharmacists in the country.

Unfortunately, the chosen distribution channel—the District Pharmacy Chambers—proved insufficiently effective, as only 91 questionnaires were completed, while there are over 26,000 pharmacists in Poland [21].

The authors acknowledge this limitation concerning the sample size, yet decided to publish the results, since no such study had previously been conducted in Poland, emphasizing that this research should be regarded as a pilot study.

The next stage of the authors’ work will involve conducting a second nationwide survey based on the same questionnaire at the beginning of 2026. The authors are currently developing strategies to reach a larger number of pharmacists who could participate in the study. The results of this subsequent research will also be published.

Following the successful completion of the nationwide survey, the third stage will involve an international study, conducted in collaboration with universities in Spain, Lithuania, Germany, Croatia, Slovakia, and Bulgaria, with whom the authors are already cooperating.

A key strength of this research lies in its innovative character, as no similar studies have been carried out in Poland to date. Understanding pharmacists’ attitudes toward pharmaceutical care services is essential during the implementation phase of such services. Moreover, the findings of the expanded nationwide study may support the implementation process of pharmaceutical care. The pilot study also enables the identification of any potential weaknesses in the questionnaire, which could be refined prior to conducting the second nationwide survey.

5. Conclusions

Pharmacists in Poland positively assess the impact of pharmaceutical care on the prestige of the profession.

In Poland, pharmaceutical care services are mainly limited to those financed by the state. However, pharmacists express readiness to provide such services and expect an expansion of public funding, which corresponds with their dissatisfaction with the current stage of pharmaceutical care implementation in the country.

Pharmacists who provide pharmaceutical care report that they feel more appreciated in their profession, do not experience psychological burden, do not feel discomfort when communicating with patients, and do not fear the responsibility associated with providing such services. Nevertheless, they recognize that pharmaceutical care constitutes an additional workload in their professional duties.