INNOVATIONS in pharmacy

Supporting rural health system pharmacy technicians: A qualitative evaluation of manager perspectives and engagement with a student-developed wellness website

Emily Tisler

South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6471-8898

Meghan Haan

South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5109-9913

Alexis Ketcham

South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4891-2947

Katherine Hawton

South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3396-9387

Ainsley Powers

South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

Joseph Berendse

South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy & Allied Health Professions

Shanna O'Connor

South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5123-0899

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v17i1.7185

Keywords: pharmacy technician, professional burnout, organization and administration, health workforce, professional development

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Abstract

Purpose: Pharmacy technicians in rural health systems face elevated risk of burnout, yet limited research has explored management perspectives on this issue. The objective of this study was to explore pharmacy management perceptions of technician burnout in South Dakota health systems. The secondary objective was to evaluate user engagement with a free, student-developed website containing technician-focused burnout resources.

Methods: This qualitative study used virtual focus groups with pharmacy managers from three major rural health systems to identify perceptions of technician burnout. Inductive coding was used to analyze focus group transcripts. Additionally, students designed a website based on data from South Dakota-based technicians that contained links to targeted resources. Website usage was tracked for six weeks using Google Analytics.

Results: Thirteen pharmacy managers from five hospitals participated. Themes included recognition of burnout indicators, emphasis on behavioral rather than structural solutions, and challenges in addressing technician needs. The website, organized around five technician-reported stressors, was accessed 140 times by 67 unique users. Engagement was brief (average 72 seconds per visit), with the “Inadequate Staffing” page receiving the most views.

Conclusion: Pharmacy managers are aware of technician burnout but emphasize individual-level support over system-level change. A student-developed website was modestly utilized, suggesting that passive tools may have limited standalone impact without structural reinforcement or integration into practice.

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Author Biographies

Emily Tisler, South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

PharmD Candidate 2026

Meghan Haan, South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

PharmD Candidate 2026

Alexis Ketcham, South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

PharmD Candidate 2026

Katherine Hawton, South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

PharmD Candidate 2027

Ainsley Powers, South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

PharmD Candidate 2026

Joseph Berendse, South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy & Allied Health Professions

PharmD, BCACP

Department of Pharmacy Practice

Shanna O'Connor, South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

PharmD

Department of Pharmacy Practice

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5123-0899