A recent study has revealed that six out of every ten healthcare professionals in the Greater Accra region are thinking about leaving their current positions, which highlights a significant concern regarding job satisfaction and retention within the healthcare sector in that area. According to a recent research study conducted by experts from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
The findings published in the journal Heliyon show that a significant portion of health professionals in the region are thinking about leaving their current positions. The study involved health workers from 10 public and private hospitals and found that 59.8% of those surveyed expressed intentions to quit their jobs, which highlights ongoing challenges in retaining the healthcare workforce in Ghana.
The research was carried out by Dr. Phillip Apraku Tawiah, who is part of the School of Public Health at KNUST.
The team interviewed 495 health workers, which included a variety of professionals such as doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory staff, physiotherapists, and supporting personnel. The purpose of the study was to understand the reasons behind the high turnover intentions among healthcare workers.
One of the key findings was that health workers who frequently worked overtime, those who worked more than five days a week, those who felt their departments were understaffed, or those who had experienced physical assault at work were more likely to consider leaving their jobs.
Among all the groups, the supporting staff had the highest likelihood of intending to quit their positions.
The study further showed that health workers who felt their departments were understaffed were 40% more likely to want to leave, while those who worked overtime had a 26% higher chance of considering quitting.
Those who had faced physical assault at work were 21% more likely to intend to leave their jobs.
On the other hand, health workers who managed to get at least eight hours of sleep each day were less likely to consider quitting, suggesting that sufficient rest might help in reducing the desire to leave the workforce.
The researchers pointed out that while the rate of turnover intention in this study is slightly lower than what has been reported in some earlier studies conducted in Ghana and other parts of Africa, it is still high enough to be a concern for the healthcare system.
If not addressed, it could lead to serious problems in providing adequate healthcare services.
The authors explained that factors such as working long hours, shortages of staff, and exposure to violence at work are major contributors to stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction among healthcare workers.
These factors increase the chances of them seeking new employment opportunities elsewhere.
Based on their findings, the researchers recommended that hospital administrators and government officials take steps to address the issues of long working hours, staffing shortages, and unsafe working conditions.
By improving staffing levels, creating better work schedules, enhancing workplace security, and implementing programs that support the well–being of healthcare workers, it may be possible to reduce the number of people intending to leave their jobs. These measures could help in retaining skilled professionals and ensuring the continued delivery of high–quality healthcare services in Ghana.
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