Job satisfaction among healthcare workers in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Using a unique survey of more than 7,000 respondents conducted immediately after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, we investigate potential drivers of the job satisfaction of healthcare workers. Relying on a representative sample of Italian physicians and nurses, we show that, in addition to personal characteristics (e.g., age, gender, health status), contextual factors (i.e., working conditions) play the leading role in explaining variation in the level of satisfaction (58%). In particular, working in a high-quality facility increases worker satisfaction and willingness to remain in the profession, and in the current medical specialization, while working in a province with a perceived shortage of medical personnel yields the opposite result. Direct experience with COVID-19 (e.g., having tested positive) is not significantly correlated with the level of job satisfaction, which is instead significantly reduced by changes in the working conditions caused by the health emergency.

Impact of primary care system interventions on healthcare worker satisfaction and intention to stay in the Philippines: a follow-up study

“…A study in Italy reported that HCWs working in provinces with perceived shortage of medical personnel had lower job satisfaction and intent to stay, compared with those in high-quality facilities. 18 This is consistent with our study results that those working in the urban site predicted higher odds of intent to stay. The increase in job resources, including human health resources, in the urban site in our study may have been a positive factor contributing to higher intent to stay.…”

Healthcare Professionals’ Resilience During the COVID-19 and Organizational Factors That Improve Individual Resilience: A Mixed-Method Study

“…53 On the other side, working in a high-quality facility increases worker satisfaction and willingness to remain in the profession. 54 Hence, evidence suggests that, for instance, a high level of satisfaction with the work has a significant impact on providing better patient care as well as reducing the risk of professional burnout of nurses. 55 Concerning appreciation, this emphasis on the importance of public recognition of the work of healthcare professionals has also been highlighted in the literature.…”

The impact of COVID-19 on nurses’ job satisfaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Savitsky et al constituted an occupational satisfaction scale by utilizing items from the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Measure of Job Satisfaction, and other items ( 41 ). Finally, Barili et al constructed an index “Satisfaction i” to measure job satisfaction derived from items extracted from the Labor Force Survey ( 42 ).…”

“…Experience ( 37 ), lower education ( 33 ), and having a family ( 33 , 36 , 37 , 42 ) were personal factors contributing to job satisfaction. Older age was generally associated with greater job satisfaction ( 32 , 36 , 37 , 42 ), with an exception in one study ( 24 ). One study found that female nurses were less satisfied compared to male nurses ( 24 ).…”