Quality of work life of rural emergency department nurses and physicians: a pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundInformation about recruitment and retention factors and quality of work life (QWL) in rural emergency departments (EDs) is limited. A pilot study was used to determine the feasibility of a large-scale study of these variables in Quebec EDs.MethodsTwo EDs, approximately 10,000 and 30,000 patients per year respectively, were selected as convenience samples. An online survey containing the Quality of Work Life Systemic Inventory (QWLSI; 34 items) and the Recruitment and Retention Factors Questionnaire (39 items) was sent to ED nurses and physicians of these two EDs. Descriptive statistics of percentage, mean and standard deviation and correlations were used to analyse the data.ResultsForty out of 64 eligible workers (62%) gave their consent to participate, but only 20 had completed both questionnaires. Participants’ mean age was 42 years (SD = 11.6). The average participants satisfaction with their access to continuing education was low (Mean = 1.6, SD = 0.8). However, their satisfaction with technical resources (Mean = 2.4, SD = 0.7), pre-hospital and inter-hospital transfer services (Mean = 2.5, SD = 0.6), relationships with colleagues (Mean = 2.7, SD = 0.6) and managers (Mean = 2.2, SD = 0.7), work-life balance (Mean = 2.4, SD = 0.6) and emergency patient access to other departments (Mean = 3.7, SD = 0.6) was in the average. The impact of several aspects of the rural environment (e.g. tranquility) on quality of life was also in the average (Mean = 2.5, SD = 0.7). QWL was in the average, excepted subscale ‘support offered to employee’ for which the QWL was lower.ConclusionsData collection was difficult and the larger study will require strategies to improve recruitment such as a paper alternative. The study showed globally good recruitment and retention factors and QWL for these ED nurses and physicians. These results will help hospital administrations better plan initiatives aimed at improving retention and QWL.

Quality of nursing work life and related factors among emergency nurses in Jordan

“…Likewise, some studies reported that non‐Arab nurses were also not satisfied with their QNWL and were dissatisfied with all QNWL dimensions . In contrast other researchers reported a moderate QNWL among nurses from different practice settings . Previous studies revealed inconsistent results about QNWL which may lead to improper nursing care and threaten patient's safety and their families.…”

The study of employee satisfaction and burnout syndrome in healthcare workers

“…Синдром вигорання у лікарів негативно впливає на відчуття задоволеності працею [13,14]. Встановлено, що чим нижчий рівень робочого стресу, тим вище рівень задоволеності працею [15].…”

Interventions to improve recruitment and retention of physicians in rural and remote Canada: a systematic review

“…7,12,[20][21][22][23]26,27,[29][30][31][32][33][34][35] After physicians completed their medical education, a variety of interventions targeted them. These included access to specialists via telemedicine, 8,33 access to quality continuing medicine education, 17,27,32,33,36,37 having quality community resources, 11 and having appropriate work-life balance (eg limiting call to a maximum of one call shift every five days). 15,37 Other qualities that made rural practice more appealing to physicians included developing connections to the Note: "+" denotes an intervention positively affecting recruitment and retention, while "-" denotes a negative impact Table 1.…”