Recruitment and retention strategies for public sector optometrists in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Ramson, Prasidh; Govender, Pirindha; Naidoo, Kovin

doi:10.4102/aveh.v75i1.349

Cited by 16 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…In Ghana, salary/remuneration is perceived to be low among healthcare professionals [ 17 ]. Lower financial rewards to these healthcare professionals, including optometrists, may result in low work performance and/or productivity [ 36 ], hence the need for stakeholders to adopt policies aimed at enhancing renumeration/salary levels and reducing job turnover among optometrists [ 42 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Job satisfaction and its associated factors among optometrists in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Akuffo

Agyei-Manu

Kumah

et al. 2021

Health Qual Life Outcomes

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Background Job satisfaction describes an employee’s motivation and/or feeling of satisfaction towards his/her work. Globally, healthcare professionals’ turnover and retention play a critical role in the delivery of essential health services. In Ghana, however, little has been done to ascertain job satisfaction levels among human resources for eye-health. The objective of this study therefore was to assess job satisfaction and its associated factors among optometrists in Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 304 registered and licensed optometrists of the Ghana Optometric Association between September 2018 and June 2019. A validated, well-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on socio-demographic characteristics of participants and measures on job satisfaction. Scores from a five-point Likert scale was employed to examine job satisfaction and its associated factors. Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between overall job satisfaction and its associated factors using Rasch logit scores. Results A total of 214 optometrists gave valid responses to the questionnaires used for the final analysis. The mean (± SD) score of the overall perception of job satisfaction among optometrists was 3.36 (± 1.00), with 74.3% of them being satisfied with their jobs. After statistical adjustment, Good work-life balance (Unstandardized co-efficient (β) = 0.288, p = 0.001), Salary (β = 0.222, p < 0.0005), Supervision (β = 0.117, p = 0.044), and Continuing Education Opportunities (β = 0.138, p = 0.017) were all significantly associated with higher levels of overall job satisfaction. Conclusions Most optometrists were satisfied with their jobs. Effective strategic planning and management of human resources for eye-health in Ghana are essential in the development of quality eye-health systems and the provision of high-quality eyecare services.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Job satisfaction and its associated factors among optometrists in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Akuffo

Agyei-Manu

Kumah

et al. 2021

Health Qual Life Outcomes

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“…On the other hand, training of more optometrists would not necessarily translate into improved access to eye care services, if there are no existing policies to attract and retain them in the rural communities [ 12 , 13 ]. Like other health care professionals, attracting eye care professionals to rural areas is a challenge facing many countries, both developed and developing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing the decision of GHANAIAN optometry students to practice in rural areas after graduation

et al. 2018

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BackgroundHuman resources for eye health are inequitably distributed in most developing countries including Ghana. In spite of this, most eye care workers are concentrated in urban areas to the disadvantage of rural dwellers who need the services of these workers the most. The aim of the study was to investigate factors that will influence Ghanaian Optometry students’ decision to work in rural areas after completion of their training.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted among Ghanaian optometry undergraduate students. All undergraduate optometry students (first to sixth year) who agreed to take part in the research completed a 37 item questionnaire that explored; demographic characteristics, views about practice choice and possible attractions and incentives to practice in the rural area.ResultsA total of 333 (87.4%) participants out of 381 Ghanaian optometry students who were registered for the 2015/2016 academic year completed the questionnaire. Rural origin students had the greatest desire to practice in the rural setting when employed by the Government (78.9%) or by NGO (80.3%). Financial incentives (76.6%), scholarship for further studies (76.0%), better living conditions (71.2%) and career ladder jump for rural health workers (71.2%) were the main incentives that influenced the intention of graduate optometrists to practice in the rural areas.ConclusionRural origin students are more inclined to work in rural areas than urban origin students, a finding which is informative for optometry training schools when managing their admission policies. Financial incentives among other factors will encourage more students to engage in rural optometric practice irrespective of their place of origin.

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“…The lack of equipment and infrastructure was mentioned in a previous study by public sector optometrists as one of the priorities that needed intervention for retention purposes. 25…”

Section: Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A concern is that this phenomenon may eventually lead to a loss of skills to the private sector to the detriment of eye health care services for the majority of the population dependent on the public sector. Ramson et al 25 ranked career growth as the second highest required intervention stated by public sector optometrists when asked about their potential retention within the public service. Therefore, there is a need for career growth opportunities and improved working and living conditions for optometrists if retention and recruitment strategies are to succeed.…”

Section: Area Of Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Online appendix 2:An evaluation of the public sector optometric service provided within the health districts in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Maake

Moodley

2018

Afr. vis. eye health

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Background: In South Africa, optometry has been traditionally positioned within the private sector. The situation has gradually changed over the past two decades, with optometry being introduced into the public sector in many parts of the country. Despite the growing numbers, optometrists are still new within the public health sector, motivating this study to evaluate the eye care services they provide.Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive study was undertaken. Stratified random selection was applied to select the study sites, and systematic sampling was used to select patients’ files. A saturated sample of public sector optometrists employed in the selected districts completed study questionnaires. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 21.Results: A total of 2968 records were reviewed, and gender distribution was 67.6% female and 32.4% male. Refraction (86.73%) was the most frequently conducted test, followed by ophthalmoscopy (74.73%), colour vision (0.07%) and gonioscopy (0.03%). The response rate for the questionnaires was 64.7%. Optometric outreach services were conducted by 54.5% of optometrists, and the majority (83.3%) reported that the farthest outreach facility was more than 50 km from their base hospital. The availability of equipment at outreach facilities was less as compared to base hospitals, while some reported not having the necessary equipment even at base hospitals. None of the optometrists did contact lens fitting at outreach facilities. A lack of equipment was cited as one of the reasons for not providing this service by 100% of optometrists. Most optometrists (63.6%) believed that more than 30% of their referrals might have been avoided if they had prescribed therapeutic agents to manage ocular conditions.Conclusion: Introducing optometrists within the public sector improves access to services for rural communities. However, the minimum standard of optometric care is not practised, allegedly because of a lack of equipment. Therefore, resources should be made available to enable optometrists to provide comprehensive optometric services. In addition, the study highlighted the need for more optometry posts in rural communities and for the implementation of career growth paths to attract and retain optometrists within the public sector.

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Recruitment and retention strategies for public sector optometrists in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Cited by 16 publications

References 23 publications

Job satisfaction and its associated factors among optometrists in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Job satisfaction and its associated factors among optometrists in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Factors influencing the decision of GHANAIAN optometry students to practice in rural areas after graduation

Online appendix 2:An evaluation of the public sector optometric service provided within the health districts in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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