PHARMACY TECHNICIAN TURNOVER RATES DURING A PANDEMIC AT A CHILDREN'S AND WOMEN'S HEALTH-SYSTEM

Purpose: This study assessed pharmacy technician turnover rates during a pandemic at a children’s and women’s health system and within different practice areas. Methods: This study was a single-center, retrospective, longitudinal study of turnover rates in pharmacy technicians at Texas Children's Hospital. Data for turnover numbers and rates were collected via an organizational dashboard. Turnover incidences in three defined years were analyzed utilizing chi square tests and an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to assess significant changes in turnover during the pandemic when adjusting for the different years and increments of time. Results: There was no significant association in turnover found when comparing the pre-pandemic year with the first year of the pandemic Χ2 (1, N = 445) = 0.04, p = .850 or when compared to the second year of the pandemic Χ2 (1, N = 445) = 0.1, p = .750. Through the ITS analysis, a significant change in turnover was detected, t(1) = 2.3, p = .047, in the composite population at the start of the pandemic. A significant turnover change was also observed among pharmacy technicians employed at a community campus, t(1) = 2.26, p = .049 Conclusion: At a children’s and women’s health system, turnover occurrences were not significant between the different years of the pandemic. However, there was a significant change in turnover that is contributed to factors outside of time. Further studies are warranted to assess other influencing factors and their impacts on turnover.