Pharmacy

Background: Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia are assuming increasingly diverse and specialized roles amid rapid healthcare transformation. However, evolving expectations and expanding responsibilities may influence their job satisfaction, well-being, and career stability. This study aimed to assess job satisfaction, burnout, well-being, and career intentions among pharmacists across multiple practice sectors in Saudi Arabia. Method: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2024 and January 2025 using an electronic questionnaire distributed to licensed pharmacists. The instrument assessed mental well-being, job satisfaction, burnout, workplace environment, and career mobility. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total of 531 pharmacists completed the survey; 65% were male, and 89.3% were Saudi nationals. Sector distribution differed significantly by gender (p < 0.001): females were more represented in clinical and hospital pharmacy, while males predominated in the pharmaceutical industry–related roles. Male pharmacists reported higher work environment scores (p = 0.028) and greater sector mobility (34.2% vs. 23.7%, p = 0.012). Approximately 30.5% of participants had changed their employment sector at least once. Community pharmacists reported the highest burnout levels, whereas those in regulatory and administrative roles demonstrated the greatest job satisfaction (both p < 0.001). Participation in professional development showed strong positive associations with job satisfaction and intention to remain in the current role. Conclusions: Marked variations exist in pharmacists’ well-being, satisfaction, and career mobility across sectors in Saudi Arabia, with notable gender differences. Enhancing professional development, ensuring equitable work environments, and promoting sector-specific support strategies may help inform discussions on pharmacist engagement and retention within the evolving national healthcare system.

(1) Background: We aimed to determine rates of bacteremia and multidrug resistance (MDR) bacteremia and associated risk factors among neonates receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). (2) Methods: This is a multicenter study conducted in three neonatal intensive care units in Saudi Arabia, including 414 neonates who received PN. Associations were assessed using Chi-square or Fisher’s Exact tests when applicable and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine factors predicting outcomes. Odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were computed, and a p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. (3) Results: PN was started within the first 10 days of life in 74.4% of cases. Fat emulsion was administered to 38.9% of the newborns. Blood cultures were positive in 24.9% of patients. Among the positive cultures, 4.9% were confirmed to have MDR bacteria. The mortality rate following bacteremia was 7.8%. The use of fat emulsion (p = 0.003), birth weight < 700 g (p < 0.001), and a gestational age within 27 weeks (p < 0.001) predicted bacteremia. (4) Conclusions: There was an association between the PN and bacteremia. Significant predictors of bacteremia were the use of fat emulsion, birth weight < 700 g, and a gestational age within 27 weeks.

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is essential for patients who are unable to tolerate oral or enteral feeding, providing them with necessary nutrients intravenously, including dextrose, amino acids, electrolytes, vitamins, trace elements, and lipid emulsions. Clinical pharmacists (CPs) play a critical role in PN management by ensuring proper formulation, monitoring therapy, preventing complications, and optimizing patient outcomes. In Saudi Arabia, limited literature exists on CPs’ involvement in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) administration, health information management (HIM) systems, and pharmacist staffing ratios. This paper examines the evolving role of CPs in PN management, addressing key challenges such as the optimal patient-to-CP ratio, the impact of HIM systems on PN prescribing, and the advantages and limitations of centralized versus decentralized PN prescription models. It highlights the need for standardized staffing levels, structured pharmacist training, and improved HIM integration to enhance workflow efficiency and prescribing accuracy. Additionally, the study examines how the adoption of advanced HIM systems can streamline documentation, reduce prescribing errors, and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration. This paper provides a framework for optimizing PN delivery, enhancing healthcare quality, and strengthening CPs’ contributions to nutrition support by addressing these factors. Implementing these recommendations will improve patient outcomes and establish a more efficient PN management system in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the vital role of CPs in multidisciplinary care.