Job satisfaction and its correlation with pharmacists' performance and patient trust.

Background: Job satisfaction is a key factor influencing pharmacists' performance and the level of trust patients place in them. Recognizing the relationship between these elements is essential for enhancing pharmacy services, improving patient outcomes, and creating a supportive work environment in healthcare settings.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess how pharmacists' job satisfaction relates to their professional performance and the level of trust patients place in them. This review aims to provide evidence-based insights into how these factors collectively influence healthcare outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature search across several electronic databases-PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library-covering publications up to December 2024. Our search strategy effectively identified relevant studies exploring job satisfaction among pharmacists and its impact on work performance and patient trust. We utilized Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms along with targeted free-text keywords such as "pharmacist job satisfaction," "work performance," "patient trust," "pharmacy practice," and "professional commitment." By employing Boolean operators (AND, OR), we refined and enhanced our results. To assess the risk of bias, we used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized controlled trials and the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies. This review was registered on PROSPERO under registration number CRD42024627893.

Results: A total of 65 studies were included in the final analysis, representing a variety of geographic regions and pharmacist populations. The meta-analysis revealed that job satisfaction among pharmacists was significantly linked to improved professional performance and increased patient trust. Monthly income and workplace environment emerged as the most prominent predictors, followed by years of experience and professional role. A fixed-effects model was utilized due to low to moderate heterogeneity (I < 50%), and the results remained robust under sensitivity analysis. Additionally, subgroup analysis of pharmacist-related factors further confirmed the reliability of these associations. Funnel plot symmetry and statistical tests indicated minimal publication bias.

Conclusion: This review highlights a significant link between job satisfaction, pharmacists' performance, and patient trust. Higher job satisfaction correlates with better pharmacist engagement and patient outcomes. However, many pharmacists intend to leave due to job dissatisfaction. Targeted improvements in workplace culture, compensation, and recognition could significantly enhance pharmacist retention and patient-centered care.

Systematic Review Registration: Identifier [CRD2024627893] RD42024627893. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024627893.