Relationships between actual and desired workplace characteristics and job satisfaction for community health workers in China: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
Community health workers are the main providers of community health services in China and have been important in the process of health system reform that has been in place since 2009. Therefore, it is critical that healthcare managers and policy decision makers motivate current staff and improve their job satisfaction. This study examined workplace characteristics and their contribution to job satisfaction in community health workers in Heilongjiang Province, China.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 448 community health workers, from three cities in Heilongjiang province, was conducted between October 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. Multistage sampling procedures were used to measure socioeconomic and demographic status, job satisfaction, and both actual and desired workplace characteristics. Factor analysis was conducted to determine the main factors contributing to workplace characteristics, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the key determinants of job satisfaction.


RESULTS
Eight groups of factors were identified as the most important workplace characteristics. These comprised system and policy; fringe benefits; work itself; work relationships; professional development; recognition; work environment; and remuneration. In all cases, all desired workplace characteristics were higher than the associated actual workplace characteristics. The main determinants of job satisfaction were occupation, years worked in health service institution, and five subscales representing the gap between desired and actual workplace characteristics, which were system and policy; fringe benefits; working relationship; professional development; and remuneration.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggested that managers wishing to enhance job satisfaction should assess workplace characteristics comprehensively and design mechanisms that reduce the gap between actual and desired workplace characteristics.
Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China. lilihmu@gmail.com.
Li
L
Li
Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China. hill106@163.com.
Zhong
Z
Zhang
English Department, School of Humanities and Social Science, Harbin, People's Republic of China. 21854352@qq.com.
Zhinan
Z
Sun
Emergency Office, Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, People's Republic of China. hrbcdc@163.com.
Hao
H
Zhou
Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China. healthlaw@126.com.
Xinyan
X
Liu
Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China. 7926529@qq.com.
Heng
H
Li
Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China. lihuafanhmu@gmail.com.
Lihua
L
Fan
Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. peter.coyte@utoronto.ca.
Peter C
PC
Coyte
D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002681:China; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003150:Community Health Workers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003815:Dentists; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D015279:Organizational Culture; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D013192:Staff Development; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult