The influence of job satisfaction, resilience and work engagement on turnover intention among village doctors in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: As the gatekeepers of rural residents' health, teams of village doctors play a vital role in improving rural residents' health. However, the high turnover of village doctors, both individually and collectively, threaten the stability of village medical teams. This research evaluated the influence of job satisfaction, resilience, and work engagement on the village doctors' turnover intention, and explored the mediating role of work engagement and resilience between job satisfaction and the turnover intention of village doctors in China. Methods: A quantitative study using a self-administered questionnaire containing mostly structured items was conducted among village doctors with a sample size of 2693 from 1345 rural clinics in Shandong province, China, during May and June 2019. All variables including demographic characteristics, job satisfaction, resilience, work engagement and turnover intention were based on available literature, and measured on a 5-or 6-point Likert scale. Such statistical methods as one-way ANOVA, bivariate correlation, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were used.Results: Up to 46.9% of the subjects had a higher turnover intention and more than 26.3% of them had a medium turnover intention. The job satisfaction of village doctors could not only have a direct negative effect on turnover intention (β = − 0.37, p < 0.001), but also have an indirect effect through work engagement (β = − 0.04,=< 0.001). Meanwhile, work engagement also had a direct negative impact on turnover intention (β = − 0.13, p < 0.001), and resilience had an indirect negative impact on turnover intention through work engagement (β = − 0.09, p < 0.001).The above results of this study strongly confirmed that job satisfaction, resilience, and work engagement were early, powerful predicators of village doctors' turnover intention.(Continued on next page) Conclusion: According to the results, the following should be taken seriously to improve job satisfaction: reasonable and fair income, effective promotion mechanism, fair social old-age security, reasonable workload, and strong psychological coping mechanisms for work stress. The turnover intention of village doctors could be reduced through improving job satisfaction, resilience and work engagement.

A Predictive Study of Resilience and Its Relationship with Academic and Work Dimensions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Along similar lines, Zhang et al [ 47 ] outlined the implications of working in different occupational professions as another individual factor. This may influence resilience whilst at the same time improve the quality of work performance, in addition to having a positive association with spiritual health and self-concept [ 51 , 52 ].…”

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“…It has also been found that job satisfaction and work engagement, cumulatively, subside employees' turnover intention because satisfied employees tend to be more engaged in the work which prevents them from leaving the companies. Zhang, Bian, Bai, Kong, Liu, Chen, and Li (2020) found in their study that job satisfaction and work engagement were significantly correlated with each other. Average or low satisfaction was found among rural physicians as they were assigned to the tasks more than they could handle; no chances for promotions; insufficient compensation; low social security as compared to their urban counterparts; and lack of training or skill development opportunities.…”

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