Abstract
BackgroundCommunity health workers are the main providers of community health services in China and have been important in the process of health system reform that has been in place since 2009. Therefore, it is critical that healthcare managers and policy decision makers motivate current staff and improve their job satisfaction. This study examined workplace characteristics and their contribution to job satisfaction in community health workers in Heilongjiang Province, China.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 448 community health workers, from three cities in Heilongjiang province, was conducted between October 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. Multistage sampling procedures were used to measure socioeconomic and demographic status, job satisfaction, and both actual and desired workplace characteristics. Factor analysis was conducted to determine the main factors contributing to workplace characteristics, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the key determinants of job satisfaction.ResultsEight groups of factors were identified as the most important workplace characteristics. These comprised system and policy; fringe benefits; work itself; work relationships; professional development; recognition; work environment; and remuneration. In all cases, all desired workplace characteristics were higher than the associated actual workplace characteristics. The main determinants of job satisfaction were occupation, years worked in health service institution, and five subscales representing the gap between desired and actual workplace characteristics, which were system and policy; fringe benefits; working relationship; professional development; and remuneration.ConclusionsThese findings suggested that managers wishing to enhance job satisfaction should assess workplace characteristics comprehensively and design mechanisms that reduce the gap between actual and desired workplace characteristics.
Highlights
Community health workers are the main providers of community health services in China and have been important in the process of health system reform that has been in place since 2009
These findings suggested that managers wishing to enhance job satisfaction should assess workplace characteristics comprehensively and design mechanisms that reduce the gap between actual and desired workplace characteristics
Eight subscales of desired workplace characteristics (DWC) were derived based on the factor analysis; for each of the eight subscales, DWC, actual workplace characteristics (AWC) and GWC were measured, and the determinants of job satisfaction were assessed
Summary
Community health workers are the main providers of community health services in China and have been important in the process of health system reform that has been in place since 2009. It is critical that healthcare managers and policy decision makers motivate current staff and improve their job satisfaction. This study examined workplace characteristics and their contribution to job satisfaction in community health workers in Heilongjiang Province, China. There are 5,416 general practitioners working in community health institutions in the province When this number is compared to the reference population, based on human resource planning ratios, there is a shortfall of approximately 30% in the number of general practitioners (5,416 vs 7,620) [2].
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