Abstract
The focus of this study is health-related professionals who, according to reports are pushed into other sectors or out of South Africa. Related health professionals refer to laboratory technologists, pharmacists, radiographers, emergency medical services (paramedics), nurses, and optometrists. These practitioners are a diverse group who deliver high quality care to patients across a wide range of care pathways and in a variety of settings. Several reports have been published with regard to employee dissatisfaction within health care profession, unfortunately much of these reports have focused on doctors and nurses without commensurate attention to other health professionals. The central question in this study is: why are there high levels of employee dissatisfaction amongst health-related professionals in South Africa? And what remedies are there? This study therefore attempts to understand the factors that will help to reduce the causes of the often acclaimed sense of job insecurity, high levels of health worker absenteeism, and high turnover rates amongst health-related professionals. The findings will possibly help in addressing the difficulty in retaining skilled health-related professionals. Data collected was coded for statistical program for social science (SPSS) suitability. SPSS was utilized to generate the frequency and descriptive statistics. Data collection instrument was the Plus Delta Organisational Climate Questionnaire,which was modified on the basis of a preliminary study. The data instrument achieved a coefficient alpha (Cronbach) of 0.9 thus extending its validity. Utilising exploratory factor analysis, the study reveals new factors which are considered central to retaining health-related professionals. Key words: Health-related professions, South Africa, employee dissatisfaction, seven factors of employee satisfaction.
Highlights
Research has consistently shown that health establishments face a constant challenge of retaining health professionals
Several reports have been published with regard to employee dissatisfaction within health care profession, much of these reports have focused on doctors and nurses without commensurate attention to other health professionals
The descriptive statistics were compiled with the help of frequency tables, while the correlation analysis was done by using a combination of factor analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and T-test
Summary
Research has consistently shown that health establishments face a constant challenge of retaining health professionals. The present study focuses on health-related professionals in South Africa with the hope of understanding their practice/occupational needs, so that these needs can be better served. Healthcare workers experience major unhealthy challenges in their practice (McCann et al, 2009: 189) These challenges can result in severe distress, burnout or physical illness and to a decrease in quality of life and service provision. When any of these is experienced, it can lead to increased absenteeism and turnover (Grobler et al, 2006; Robbins et al, 2009); while increased absenteeism and turnover can subsequently lead to increased workload, poor response to suffering or dying patients and organisational problems and conflicts (De Witte, 2005; Govender, 2006; Pundit, 2006). Health professionals face challenges such as neglect, lack of attention, malfunctioning equipment, a dissatisfied customer, overwork and many more
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