Predictors of professional quality of life among nurses–A cross sectional study

Abstract

A good practice environment is a vital aspect of the staffing and retention of health care workers, especially of nurses affecting patient care. This study investigates the predictors of nurses’ Professional Quality of Life working in public hospitals and private hospitals. A cross-sectional design was utilized, including 374 nurses conveniently sampling selected in two public hospitals and two private hospitals in the Philippines using a Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index and Professional Quality of Life scale having a good psychometric property, respectively. The overall mean score for practice environment for Nurses is at a low level, whereas the mean Professional Quality of Life score was at a moderate level. Age is significantly associated with the burnout subscale (r=-0.119, p<0.021) and with secondary traumatic stress (r=-0.193, p<0.001). Monthly salary is significantly associated with the compassion satisfaction subscale (r=-0.140, p=0.007) and STS (r=0.107, p=0.038). Meanwhile, the working hours' figure is significantly associated with compassion satisfaction subscale (r=-0.133, p=0.010). Finally, the practice environment of nurses shown is significantly associated with compassion satisfaction subscale (r=-0.426, p=0.007) and secondary traumatic stress (r=0.524, p<0.001). Filipino nurses have a lower practice environment and moderate professional quality of life. The predictors of the professional quality of life of nurses were age, monthly salary, working hours, and their practice environment. Specifically, the higher the salary and the shorter the working hours, the better their professional quality of life. Additionally, the poorer the practice environment, the lower the professional quality of life.