Job satisfaction among pharmacists practicing in Benin City, Nigeria

Purpose: Job satisfaction is positively related to productivity and effectiveness and therefore, vital for effective functioning of any professional practice including pharmacy. The purpose of this study was to assess job satisfaction of pharmacists in Benin City and to gain insight and understanding of their expectations in various practice area. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pharmacists in various practice areas in Benin City. Job satisfaction was evaluated among 200 pharmacists recruited using convenient sampling method. The tool used was a pretested, three section self-completion questionnaire which tested job satisfaction and their indicators in pharmacy practice areas using 3 and 5 point Likert-type scales, respectively. Data were compared using ANOVA. Results: Majority of the respondents were males (116, 58.0%), married (100, 50.0%), and practiced in community pharmacies (96, 48.0%). Their overall satisfaction with their jobs had the mean scores of 2.25 ± 0.591. Compared to other practice areas, the pharmacists in academia had the highest overall job satisfaction score (2.47 ± 0.615) and this was significantly (p=0.01) higher than the overall satisfaction score of hospital pharmacists (2.04 ± 0.576). Increase in salary was the highest indicator of job satisfaction for the respondents (4.26 ± 1.218); which was followed by promotion (4.11±1.207) and recognition (3.91 ±1.254). The least indicators were motivational talk (3.36 ±1.329) and leave from work (3.37 ±1.319). Conclusion: Study participants reported to be satisfied on their job and academics were most satisfied, while hospital pharmacists were the least satisfied. Salary increase, promotion, and recognition were the major factors that influence job satisfaction for the pharmacists