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GUEST EDITORIAL
Year : 2015  |  Volume : 8  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 129-130  

Job satisfaction of hospital staff: An emerging challenge


Department of Psychiatry, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University), Rural Medical College, Loni, Maharashtra, India

Date of Web Publication13-Mar-2015

Correspondence Address:
Suprakash Chaudhury
Department of Psychiatry, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed University), Rural Medical College, Loni, Maharashtra
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0975-2870.153135

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How to cite this article:
Chaudhury S. Job satisfaction of hospital staff: An emerging challenge. Med J DY Patil Univ 2015;8:129-30

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Chaudhury S. Job satisfaction of hospital staff: An emerging challenge. Med J DY Patil Univ [serial online] 2015 [cited 2024 Mar 28];8:129-30. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/mjdy/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2015/8/2/129/153135

Job satisfaction is defined as "a pleasurable or positive emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one's job or job experiences." [1] Few models have been proposed for studying job satisfaction. The most popular job satisfaction model is Locke's range of affect theory, which postulates that job satisfaction is determined by a discrepancy between what one wants in a job and what one has in a job. The theory also mentions that how much one values a given facet of work (e.g., the degree of autonomy) moderates how satisfied/dissatisfied one becomes with the job when expectations are/are not met. The common aspects of job satisfaction are work, pay, promotions, recognition, benefits, working conditions, supervision, co-workers, company and management. [1] On the other hand, the dispositional theory posits that people have innate dispositions that cause them to have tendencies toward a certain level of satisfaction, regardless of the nature of the job. This theory became a notable explanation of job satisfaction in view of evidence that job satisfaction tends to be stable over time and across careers and jobs. [2]

Herzberg's two-factor theory states that satisfaction and dissatisfaction are driven by different factors - motivation and hygiene factors, respectively. He named the satisfiers as motivators and the dissatisfiers as hygiene factors. Hygiene factors (working conditions, quality of supervision, salary, status, security, company policies and interpersonal relations) ensure that an employee does not become dissatisfied. These factors do not improve motivation, but without them there is dissatisfaction. Motivational factors (achievement, recognition, responsibility for task, interest in the job, advancement to higher level tasks and growth, meaningfulness) are needed to motivate an employee into higher performance. This theory emphasized that managers must ensure the adequacy of the hygiene factors to avoid employee dissatisfaction. Simultaneously, the managers must ensure that the work is stimulating and rewarding so that the employees are motivated to work and perform better. This theory emphasizes upon job-enrichment so as to motivate the employees. The job must utilize the employee's skills and competencies to the maximum. Addressing the motivational factors will improve work quality. [3],[4]

The Job Characteristics Model is used to study how particular job characteristics impact on job outcomes. According to this model there are five core job characteristics (skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy and feedback), which impact three critical psychological states (experienced meaningfulness, experienced responsibility for outcomes and knowledge of the actual results), and that in turn influence work outcomes (job satisfaction, absenteeism, work motivation). [5]

In hospitals, job dissatisfaction is highly associated with staff's intention to quit, suboptimal healthcare delivery and poor clinical outcomes, for instance due to adverse events and reduced patient adherence, and lower patient satisfaction. [6],[7],[8] For the healthcare workers themselves, lowered job satisfaction is also associated with higher levels of stress and burnout. [9] Research suggests that job satisfaction and job performance are positively correlated. [10] Doctors with higher job satisfaction are more likely to provide more satisfactory services and produce better therapeutic effect than those with lower job satisfaction. [11] Higher job satisfaction of hospital staff results in higher patient satisfaction and lower medical costs, thereby making a hospital more competitive. [12]

The most important predictors of job satisfaction are: [13]

  1. Belief that the organization carries out its Mission statement,
  2. Good communication,
  3. Less frequently being asked to perform an excessive amount of work,
  4. Good decision latitude,
  5. Satisfaction with the pay level,
  6. Satisfaction with the organization's recognition of employee contributions,
  7. Being female,
  8. Good role clarity,
  9. Being satisfied that the organization keeps employees informed,
  10. Good teamwork,
  11. Being given enough time to get the job done and
  12. Good organization/staff relations. [13] Evidence suggests that many health care workers are dissatisfied with their income and overall working conditions. [2],[14],[15]


What is the way forward? Can any steps be taken to improve job satisfaction? Increasing pay and perks may not be easy in these days of shrinking budgets. There is a need to innovate and come up with low/no cost measures. Job satisfaction is higher in a work environment in which supervisors and subordinates consult together and individuals are involved with peers in decision making and task definition. [2] This can be implemented at no cost. In one study, altering the schedule of days on night duty (without reducing the total number of night duties performed by an individual) produced a significant improvement in job satisfaction at no additional cost. [16] Recognition of staff can be one of the easiest, cost-effective strategies to retain experienced mature staff. [2] Managers at present only issue show cause notice/counseling letters. A system of also issuing letters of appreciation can vastly improve staff morale at practically no cost. The system of best-maintained ward/worker can also help in this regard.

In the age of intense competition, it is likely that only hospitals having better job satisfaction will survive. Managers can neglect it only at their peril.

 
  References Top

1.
Locke EA. The nature and causes of job satisfaction. In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. In: Dunnette MD, editors. Chicago, Ill: RandMcNally; 1976. p. 1297-349.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Asegid A, Belachew T, Yimam E. Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction and Anticipated Turnover among Nurses in Sidama Zone Public Health Facilities, South Ethiopia. Nursing Research and Practice. 2014, Article ID 909768, 26 pages. Available from: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/909768.[Last accessed on 2014 Dec 15].   Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Buitendach JH, De Witte D. Job insecurity, extrinsic and intrinsic job satisfaction and affective organizational commitment maintenance workers in a parastatal. S Afr J Bus Manage 2005;36:27-39.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Pietersen C. Job Satisfaction of Hospital Nursing Staff. S J Hum Resour Manage 2005;3:19-25.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Hackman JR, Oldham GR. Motivation through the design of work: Test of a theory. Organ Behav Hum Perform 1976;16:250-79.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Wallace JE, Lemaire JB, Ghali WA. Physician wellness: A missing quality indicator. Lancet 2009;374:1714-21.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Gardulf A, Orton ML, Eriksson LE, Undén M, Arnetz B, Kajermo KN, et al. Factors of importance for work satisfaction among nurses in a university hospital in Sweden. Scand J Caring Sci 2008;22:151-60.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Szecsenyi J, Goetz K, Campbell S, Broge B, Reuschenbach B, Wensing M. Is the jobsatisfaction of primary care team members associated with patient satisfaction? BMJ Qual Saf 2011;20:508-14.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Kalliath T, Morris R. Job satisfaction among nurses. A predictor of burnout levels. J Nurs Adm 2002;32:648-54.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Bowran JS, Todd KH. Job stressors and job satisfaction in a major metropolitan public EMS Sservice. Prehosp Disaster Med 1999;14:236-9.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Katz A. Better outcome means more job satisfaction: Pilot project Winnipeg and Halifax to enhance physician-patient communication. Can Fam Physician 1999;45:218-22.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
O′Malley J. Smart thinking for challenged health systems. Mark Health Serv 2002;2:24-8.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Krueger P, Brazil K, Lohfeld L, Edward HG, Lewis D, Tjam E. Organization specific predictors of job satisfaction: Findings from a Canadian multi-site quality of work life cross-sectional survey. BMC Health Serv Res 2002;2:6. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/2/6 [Last accessed on 2014 Dec 15].  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Goetz K, Campbell SM, Steinhaeuser J, Broge B, Willms S, Szecsenyi J. Evaluation of job satisfaction of practice staff and general practitioners: An exploratory study. BMC Fam Pract 2011 Dec 12;12:137. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/12/137.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Chaudhury S, Banerjee A. Correlates of job satisfaction in medical officers. Med J Armed Forces India 2004; 60:329-32.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Chaudhury S, Jyothi SG. Night shift intolerance in nursing officers reassessed. Med J Armed Forces India 1996;52:207-8.  Back to cited text no. 16
    



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