The relationship between job satisfaction, work stress, work–family conflict, and turnover intention among physicians in Guangdong, China: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 7; no. 5; p. e014894
• Main Authors: Lu, Yong, Hu, Xiao-Min, Huang, Xiao-Liang, Zhuang, Xiao-Dong, Guo, Pi, Feng, Li-Fen, Hu, Wei, Chen, Long, Zou, Huachun, Hao, Yuan-Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.05.2017; BMJ Open
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Burnout; China - epidemiology; Community health care; Correlation analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Employee turnover; Female; Health care policy; Health Care Reform; Health services; Health Services Research; Hospitals; Humans; Intention; Investigations; Job Satisfaction; Male; Occupational stress; Occupational Stress - epidemiology; Occupational Stress - psychology; Personnel Turnover - statistics & numerical data; Physicians; Physicians - statistics & numerical data; Population; Questionnaires; Reforms; Salespeople; Sample size; Sociodemographics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Turnover; Work life balance; Work Schedule Tolerance - psychology; Work-Life Balance - statistics & numerical data; Workload - statistics & numerical data; Workloads; Young Adult; Iraq; United States > US; China; Taiwan; Hubei China; Guangdong China; Turnover intention; Work-family conflict; Job satisfaction; Physicians; Work stress
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014894

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between job satisfaction, work stress, work–family conflict and turnover intention, and explore factors associated with turnover intention, among physicians in Guangdong Province, China.MethodsFrom August to October 2013, physicians completed questionnaires and scales with regard to their job satisfaction, work stress, work–family conflict, and turnover intention. Binary logistic regression and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used in data analysis.ResultsA total of 3963 physicians were approached, with 3563 completing the questionnaire. The mean score of the overall perception of turnover intention of physicians who worked in Guangdong was 2.71 on a scale ranging from 1 to 6. Hours worked per week, working in an urban/rural area, type of institution, and age significantly impacted on turnover intention. Turnover intention was directly and negatively related to job satisfaction, and it was directly, indirectly and positively related to work stress and work–family conflict.ConclusionJob satisfaction, work stress, work–family conflict, hours worked per week, working in an urban/rural area, types of institution and age are influencing factors of turnover intention. Reducing working hours, raising salary, providing more opportunities for career development and training, supporting and encouraging physicians by senior managers could potentially contribute to the reduction in turnover intention.