Exploring Factors that Affect the Well-Being of Healthcare Workers

Abstract

While the literature on well-being has largely explored workers in different industries, and much has been written about patient well-being and quality of life in recent years, little attention has focused on the well-being of healthcare professionals. This study aims to provide a relevant state-of-the-art on the healthcare sector within the context of well-being. The paper employs a systematic literature review, following the PRISMA guidelines, to find relevant studies; the analysis of results is then provided by using Herzberg's two-factor theory to explore factors affecting the well-being of healthcare workers. The literature review revealed that few relevant studies were conducted before the year 2013; only a recent increased attention to this theme, with a particular focus on nurses, enabled this study to confirm several factors individuated in the general literature on well-being and to highlight some other factors specific to healthcare. This paper provides suggestions to build a better and healthier work environment, highlighting that managers need to focus their attention on creating conditions that facilitate intra-and inter-professional relationships, on providing healthcare workers with adequate solutions for their well-being, and on strengthening the individual employee's identification with, and involvement in, the organization.

Mediating the Effect of Cognitive Flexibility in the Relationship between Psychological Well-Being and Self-Confidence: A Study on Turkish University Students

“…The study emphasizes the importance of cognitive flexibility in the relation between self-confidence and psychological well-being. Factors influencing psychological well-being have attracted considerable attention over the last ten years (Huppert, 2009;Kim, 2005;Nirmala, Valarmathi, Venkataraman, Kanniammal, and Arulappan, 2018;Tomo & De Simone, 2017). Thanks to a better understanding of the factors affecting psychological well-being and developing a comprehensive program, such as cognitive and psychological flexibility, self-confidence, self-compassion, such findings may be integrated to various assistance programs aimed at enhancing psychological well-being.…”

Association of care workers’ job satisfaction and global happiness with change of functional performance of severely disabled elderly residents in nursing homes: a cohort and questionnaire study in Japan

“…19 Personal factors, such as physical exhaustion and anxiety, negatively affect the global happiness of healthcare workers. [20][21][22] Organisational/context-related factors, such as job tasks, relationships with colleagues and superiors, and lack of safety, also impact the global happiness of healthcare workers. [22][23][24][25] Previous studies have illustrated that job satisfaction and global happiness affect the quality of care provided by care staff through job commitment.…”

“…[20][21][22] Organisational/context-related factors, such as job tasks, relationships with colleagues and superiors, and lack of safety, also impact the global happiness of healthcare workers. [22][23][24][25] Previous studies have illustrated that job satisfaction and global happiness affect the quality of care provided by care staff through job commitment. 26 Care communities with highly committed staff members endeavour to integrate the wishes, preferences and care needs of residents by respecting their privacy, dignity, comfort and choice in various activities.…”

Enhancing Employees’ Performance through Organizational Care Policies in the Health Care Context

“…With reference to the specific health care context, along with other factors generally acknowledged to affect employee well-being, other specific factors are found to negatively affect employee well-being (Tomo and De Simone, 2017). Previous literature that analyzed well-being in the health care context is summarized as follows in Table 1 Tepas et al, 2004) lack of recovering time and energy (e.g.…”

“…Kilfedder et al, 2001) sleep disorders (e.g. Rose & Glass, 2009) Source: Tomo and De Simone (2017) On the individual side, many authors (Gosseries et al, 2012;Kilfedder et al, 2001;Mason et al, 2016;Preposi Cruz, 2016;Sancassiani et al, 2015;Tepas et al, 2004;Tuisku et al, 2016) highlighted several physical and mental conditions/factors that influence well-being, with a particular emphasis on physical exhaustion, anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout. Sleep disorders comprise the factor that is specifically highlighted with respect to healthcare workers (Poissonnet & Véron, 2000;Rose & Glass, 2009), especially considering the effects of night shift-work and difficult work schedules.…”