Methods: Participants were selected via stratified sampling. Participants completed an online questionnaire comprising demographic details and the Health Professional Stress Inventory. Scores on each domain and the aggregate scores were compared between physicians in public and private hospitals using a univariate analysis adjusted for potential confounders.
Results: The overall stress level between physicians in public and private hospitals was similar. However, physicians in private hospitals experienced a higher stress level related to patient care responsibilities and professional uncertainty as compared to those in public hospitals.
Conclusion: Physicians from private hospitals experience stress in different aspects of their profession as compared to physicians in public hospitals, especially with reference to patient care and career uncertainty. Measures should be taken to relieve the stress of physicians and thus improve their wellbeing.
BACKGROUND: Work-life balance practices are associated with employee perceptions of the need for achievement and well-being which subsequently influence their intention to leave the organization. This study contributes new knowledge to nursing studies on work-life balance in an Asian and Islamic society where the expectations for women are to focus on family rather than career.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional, explanatory mixed methodology.
METHODS: This is a two-phase study conducted between 2015-2017 with 401 nurses in East Malaysia. In Phase 1, researchers surveyed 379 nurses to test eight hypotheses and in Phase 2 researchers interviewed 22 nurses to explore the results of Phase 1.
RESULTS: Phase 1 revealed job satisfaction mediates the relationship between work-life balance practices (e.g. flexibility and choice in working hours, supportive supervision), financial success, and intention to leave. However, life satisfaction and money as a motivator did not mediate such relationships. Phase 2 identified four important factors that cast light on survey results: working conditions of Malaysian nurses; inadequate compensation in the public healthcare sector; team-based practices; and pressure on senior nurses in both administrative and clinical roles.
CONCLUSION: This is one of the first studies to investigate work-life balance issues among nurses in Malaysia. Outcomes of this study extend the debates on work-life balance and employee well-being in an Asian Islamic social context.
IMPACT: The use of flexible working arrangements and collectivist teamwork approaches, improving compensation and employment benefits and eliminating the 'time-based job promotion' policy may help to mitigate work-life balance issues and intention to leave among nurses in Malaysia.
METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted, using questionnaires sent to selected medical staff in a public hospital in Shandong, China (N = 1012). Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate how psychological strains influencing life satisfactions among medical staff.
RESULTS: The findings indicate that aspiration strain and deprivation strain have significantly negative impact on medical staff's life satisfaction even with other variables controlled for. Weekly working hour was a significant predictor for life satisfaction. Family factors, such as marital status and kids in the family as well as social support were important factors in influencing individuals' life satisfaction.
CONCLUSION: The current study highlights the negative associations between aspiration strain, deprivation strain and life satisfaction. The result underlines the importance of actions taken to prevent and combat psychological strains. It also provides some evidence for policy makers to improve the work environment for medical staff, such as reduce weekly working hours and enhance social support in order to increase medical staff's life satisfaction.
METHODS: Focus group discussions were conducted with cancer patients who were diagnosed at least 1 year prior to recruitment, and either had paid work, were self-employed, currently unemployed, or currently retired (N = 66).
RESULTS: Three main themes were identified: (1) loss of income: While some participants were entitled for a 1-year cancer-specific sick leave, many other participants recounted having insufficient paid sick leave, forcing them to take prolonged unpaid leave to complete treatment; (2) dealing with side effects of cancer and its treatment: The need for workplace accommodations was highlighted including flexible working hours, lighter workloads, and dedicated rest areas to enable patients to cope better; (3) Discrimination and stigma at workplace: Some participants mentioned being passed over on a promotion, getting demoted, or being forced to resign once their cancer diagnosis was disclosed, highlighting an urgent need to destigmatize cancer in the workplace.
CONCLUSION: In settings with limited employment protection policies, a cancer diagnosis severely impacts the working experiences of patients, leading to financial loss. Urgent interventions and legislative reforms are needed in these settings to address the unmet employment needs of cancer survivors.
IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: This study may facilitate planning of local solutions to fulfill the unmet employment needs following cancer, such as return-to-work navigation services.