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A model of employee satisfaction amongst health-related professionals in South Africa : the case of Western Cape
Author(s)
Iwu, Chukwuma Gervase
Date Issued
2012
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
This study's main aim was to develop a model of employee satisfaction for health-related
professions in South Africa. Health-related professions refer to a variety of practitioners who
work in the healthcare sector mostly in support capacity to the clinical or medical practitioner.
They include laboratory technologists, pharmacists, radiographers, emergency medical
services (paramedics), nurses, and optometrists. These practitioners comprise a diverse
group who deliver high quality care to patients across a wide range of care pathways and in
a variety of settings. This band of professionals was chosen as the focus of the study
because most studies, which relate to health workers' satisfaction and motivation in South
Africa, have concentrated on medical doctors and nurses without a commensurate interest in
other health-related professionals.
The study is a multi-faceted one, and incorporates both qualitative and quantitative
approaches. The study is also exploratory because no model of this kind exists amongst
health-related professions of South Africa.
Permission to access selected institutions for the study was granted before the researcher
approached the population for the study. The researcher decided not to use a sample, but to
include all members of this population in the participating institutions in order to get as many
participants as possible. From a total population of 987, only 117 usable questionnaires were
returned.
Data that was collected was coded for Statistical Program for Social Science (SPSS)
suitability. SPSS was utilized to generate the frequency and descriptive statistics. The data
collection instrument was the Plus Delta Organizational Climate Questionnaire, which was
modified on the basis of a preliminary study. The data instrument achieved a coefficient
alpha (Cronbach) of 0.8, which extended its reliability.
With the use of factor analysis, this study was able to identify seven (7) factors which
influence employee satisfaction within the health-related professions in South Africa. These
factors include Role Clarification and Job Design, Equitable Performance Management,
Integrated Leadership and Knowledge Sharing and Self-efficacy, while the other factors
include Family-friendly Work Environments, Leader Credibility and Innovation, and Excellent
Customer Relations and Technology. These factors make up the model of employee
satisfaction for health-related professions considered in this research.
While the researcher suggests that further studies should be conducted in order to establish
the validity of the model, the researcher also makes a call for a data collection instrument to be distilled from the model. However, this study will undoubtedly add to the sparse literature
on health-related practitioners. This position is assumed because most literature on health
professions' job satisfaction/dissatisfaction favours doctors and nurses. The study will also
assist in understanding some of the reasons for the often reported sense of job insecurity
among practitioners in South Africa.
The study has produced a model, which health-related professions can utilise to manage
themselves better. It is hoped that the model will serve health-related professions with better
gains, such as reduction in health-related professional attrition, elimination of low levels of
trust between management and staff and reduction in high incidences of absenteeism, which
constituted research problems of this study.
professions in South Africa. Health-related professions refer to a variety of practitioners who
work in the healthcare sector mostly in support capacity to the clinical or medical practitioner.
They include laboratory technologists, pharmacists, radiographers, emergency medical
services (paramedics), nurses, and optometrists. These practitioners comprise a diverse
group who deliver high quality care to patients across a wide range of care pathways and in
a variety of settings. This band of professionals was chosen as the focus of the study
because most studies, which relate to health workers' satisfaction and motivation in South
Africa, have concentrated on medical doctors and nurses without a commensurate interest in
other health-related professionals.
The study is a multi-faceted one, and incorporates both qualitative and quantitative
approaches. The study is also exploratory because no model of this kind exists amongst
health-related professions of South Africa.
Permission to access selected institutions for the study was granted before the researcher
approached the population for the study. The researcher decided not to use a sample, but to
include all members of this population in the participating institutions in order to get as many
participants as possible. From a total population of 987, only 117 usable questionnaires were
returned.
Data that was collected was coded for Statistical Program for Social Science (SPSS)
suitability. SPSS was utilized to generate the frequency and descriptive statistics. The data
collection instrument was the Plus Delta Organizational Climate Questionnaire, which was
modified on the basis of a preliminary study. The data instrument achieved a coefficient
alpha (Cronbach) of 0.8, which extended its reliability.
With the use of factor analysis, this study was able to identify seven (7) factors which
influence employee satisfaction within the health-related professions in South Africa. These
factors include Role Clarification and Job Design, Equitable Performance Management,
Integrated Leadership and Knowledge Sharing and Self-efficacy, while the other factors
include Family-friendly Work Environments, Leader Credibility and Innovation, and Excellent
Customer Relations and Technology. These factors make up the model of employee
satisfaction for health-related professions considered in this research.
While the researcher suggests that further studies should be conducted in order to establish
the validity of the model, the researcher also makes a call for a data collection instrument to be distilled from the model. However, this study will undoubtedly add to the sparse literature
on health-related practitioners. This position is assumed because most literature on health
professions' job satisfaction/dissatisfaction favours doctors and nurses. The study will also
assist in understanding some of the reasons for the often reported sense of job insecurity
among practitioners in South Africa.
The study has produced a model, which health-related professions can utilise to manage
themselves better. It is hoped that the model will serve health-related professions with better
gains, such as reduction in health-related professional attrition, elimination of low levels of
trust between management and staff and reduction in high incidences of absenteeism, which
constituted research problems of this study.
Additional information
Thesis (DTech (Human Resource Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012.
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