title: Job satisfaction and turnover intention among Iraqi doctors--a descriptive cross-sectional multicentre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the last two decades, the Iraqi human resources for health was exposed to an unprecedented turnover of trained and experienced medical professionals. This study aimed to explore prominent factors affecting turnover intentions among Iraqi doctors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional multicentre study was carried out among 576 doctors across 20 hospitals in Iraq using multistage sampling technique. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included socio-demographic information, work characteristics, the 10-item Warr-Cook-Wall job satisfaction scale, and one question on turnover intention. Descriptive and bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify significant factors affecting turnover intentions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than one half of Iraqi doctors (55.2%) were actively seeking alternative employment. Factors associated with turnover intentions among doctors were low job satisfaction score (odds ratio (OR) = 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95, 0.99), aged 40 years old or less (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.74, 4.75), being male (OR = 4.2; 95% CI: 2.54, 7.03), being single (OR = 5.0; 95% CI: 2.61, 9.75), being threatened (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.80, 6.69), internally displaced (OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.43, 6.57), having a perception of unsafe medical practice (OR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.86, 9.21), working more than 40 h per week, (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.27, 4.03), disagreement with the way manager handles staff (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.19, 4.03), being non-specialist, (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 2.08, 7.13), and being employed in the government sector only (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high-turnover intention among Iraqi doctors is significantly associated with working and security conditions. An urgent and effective strategy is required to prevent doctors' exodus.
authors.affiliation: United Nations University-International Institute of Global Health (UNU-IIGH), International Centre for Case-Mix and Clinical Coding (ITCC), National University of Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC), Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. drsaadalezzi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Saad Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ali Jadoo
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Case-Mix and Clinical Coding (ITCC), National University of Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC), Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. saljunid@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Syed Mohamed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aljunid
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey. ilker.dastan@izmirekonomi.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dastan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tiqrit University, Tiqrit, Iraq. ruqiyaalomer@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ruqiya Subhi
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tawfeeq
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tiqrit University, Tiqrit, Iraq. ma_m776@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR), Jalan Langat, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. medkuru@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kurubaran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganasegeran
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, International Medical University (IMU), Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. samidobaie@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sami Abdo Radman
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: AlDubai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007493:Iraq; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D010820:Physicians; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace