The joint impact of burnout and neurotic personality on career satisfaction and intention to leave among health workers during the first 2 years of COVID-19

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to examine the psychological impact of COVID-19 on health workers' career satisfaction and intention to leave the health profession, with neurotic personality type as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachA total of 277 health workers in two public hospitals in Ghana were included in this study. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were adopted for the study, focusing on eight departments that were involved in the management of COVID-19 cases. Validated instruments were used to measure burnout, intention to leave, neurotic personality and career satisfaction. Using AMOS and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), various techniques were employed to analyze mediating and moderating mechanisms.FindingsThe departments had staff sizes ranging from 19 to 40, with 67% female and 33% male, with an average age of 31. Nurses accounted for the majority of responses (67.8%), followed by physicians (13.9%), sonographers (0.9%), lab technicians (0.9%) and other respondents (16.5%). The study found that health workers’ level of burnout during COVID-19 had a positive effect on their intention to leave the health profession. Career satisfaction does not mediate this relationship; however, career satisfaction negatively influences the intention to leave the health profession. A neurotic personality does not moderate this relationship.Originality/valueThis study provides validation of burnout and intention to leave among health workers in Ghana during COVID-19 and supports the proposition that threats to resources (burnout) and having a resource (career satisfaction) have effects on the intention to leave one’s profession.