Introduction

Health care professionals play a central and critical role in improving access and quality health care for the population. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global strategy on human resources on health workforce 2030 sets out the policy agenda to ensure a workforce that is fit for purpose to attain the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) [1]. Motivation of health care workers can initiate them to exert and maintain an effort towards organizational goals. Motivation depends up on many factors, and job satisfaction is one of the most important factors [2].

The term job satisfaction refers to the attitude and feelings of people about their work. Positive and favorable attitudes towards the job indicate job satisfaction. Whereas, negative and unfavorable attitudes towards their job indicate job dissatisfaction [3]. A high level of job satisfaction has a positive effect on workers’ health related quality of life [4,5,6,7], job performance [7,8,9,10], retention in work [11,12,13], quality of healthcare delivery [14, 15] and patient satisfaction [16, 17]. Low job satisfaction may result in staff turnover, tiredness, absenteeism, undesirable job performance and poor quality of service to clients [18,19,20].

Previous studies have shown that job satisfaction could be positively influenced by several factors such as payment and compensation, good interpersonal relationship, training and career growth, supportive leadership, recognition by management, better teamwork and safe working environment [19, 21,22,23,24,25,26,27]. Conversely, job satisfaction could be negatively affected by factors such as work load, work–family conflict, poor doctor–patient relationship, improper supervision, lack of training opportunities, low salaries, and financial rewards [28,29,30].

In Ethiopia, previous studies [19, 21, 23, 25, 31,32,33,34] have reported a varied level of job satisfaction among health care professionals. There is limited evidence regarding this issue in Northwest Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the job satisfaction of health care professionals working in the University of Gondar referral hospital and to explore its associated factors.

Main text

Methods

Study design, area and period

An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 27, 2017 to April 25, 2017 at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital. The hospital is located 738 km from Addis Ababa, which is the capital city of Ethiopia. It provides a full range of health care services including outpatient, inpatient and surgical services. This hospital is expected to serve for more than 5 million people in its catchment area. The hospital has 1040 health care professionals, 580 beds in five different inpatient departments and 14 wards, and 14 different units giving outpatient services to customers. Besides, this hospital serve as a referral hospital for Northwest Ethiopia [35].

Sample size determination and sampling procedure

The required sample size was calculated using a single population proportion formula:

$${\text{n}} = \frac{{\left( {{\text{z}}\upalpha/2} \right)^{2} {\text{p}}\left( {1 - {\text{p}}} \right)}}{{{\text{d}}^{2} }}$$

Assumptions n = required sample size, Z = critical value for normal distribution at 95% confidence level (1.96), d = 0.05 (5% margin of error), P = 44.2% (proportion of healthcare professionals satisfied with their job) [25] and an estimated non-response rate of 10%. The final calculated sample size for this study was 416. To select the study participants, first, health care professionals who had a work experience of 6 months and above were included. However, health care professionals who were on maternal or annual leave or those who were seriously ill during data collection period were excluded. Then after, a simple random sampling technique was used to select each professional proportionally from all categories of professions(medical doctor, nurse, midwifery, pharmacy, laboratory, radiologist, physiotherapist, optometrist, environmental health, health officer, dentist, anesthetist, and Psychiatrist) based on the number of professionals in each category.

Data collection procedure

Data were collected using a pretested and structured interviewer administered questionnaire (Additional file 1). The questionnaire was prepared in English and translated to Amharic, then back to English to check for its consistency. The reliability of the tool for each subscale was checked using Cronbach’s alpha reliability test, which was 0.83, which showed the consistency of the questionnaire. To assure the data quality, two diploma nurses and one BSc public health professional were recruited as data collectors and supervisor, respectively. In addition, training regarding the study objectives and data collection process was given for data collectors and supervisor for 2 days. Moreover, the questionnaire was pretested among 5% of the sample size at Felege Hiwot referral hospital. Furthermore, intensive supervision was done by supervisor and principal investigators throughout the data collection period.

Study variables

The dependent variable of this study was level of job satisfaction. Assessment of Job satisfaction was measured by using twenty items each scored 5-point Likert scale with 1 denoting strongly dissatisfied and 5 denoting strongly satisfied with Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) short form [36]. The questions related to factors associated with job satisfaction were prepared by reviewing previous similar studies [27, 37, 38]. The overall job satisfaction was estimated by taking the sum score of all the subscales. Then, to measure the level of job satisfaction of each individual, respondents who scored more than 60 of the sum of all the satisfaction scale items were considered as satisfied with their job. Those who scored 60 and below were taken as dissatisfied [39]. For each domain factors, the sum score of each variable under domains value of 60 was taken as a cut point value to determine whether a health worker satisfied with his/her job or not. As a result, healthcare professionals who scored a value of 60 and below considered as dissatisfied and those who scored greater than 60 were considered as satisfied [39].

The independent variables were: socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, education level, profession category, work experiences, salary and alternative job), intrinsic motivator factors(achievement, advancement, recognition and reward, growth and work itself or nature of work) and extrinsic or hygienic factors (benefit and payment, supervision support, organizational policy and strategy, work environment, staff relationship, and work security).

Data processing and analysis

Data were cleaned, coded and entered using Epi-Info software Version 7 and analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Mean, mode, and median were used for continuous variables whereas; percentage was used for categorical variables. Descriptive results were presented using tables and figures. Model fitness was checked using a Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fitness test. Crude odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were estimated in the bivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the association between each independent variable and outcome variable. In the bivariable logistic regression, variables with P-value < 0.2 were fitted into the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Finally, adjusted odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were estimated to assess the strength of association, and variables with P-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant factors.

Results

Socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants

A total of 383 health care professionals were included in the study, resulting in a response rate of 92.1%. About two hundred twenty–three (58.2%) and more than half (53.5%) of the respondents were males and unmarried, respectively. The median age of participants was 28 (IQR 25–32) years. Majority (79.9%) and nearly half (49.6%) of the respondents had a bachelor degree and 1–5 years work experience, respectively. The median monthly salary of the respondents was 6179 (IQR4446-7111) Ethiopian Birr. Three-fourth (75.2%) of them had no alternative job opportunities (Table 1).

Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics of Health care professionals working at University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017 (n = 383)
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Level of job satisfaction

In this study, the overall prevalence of job satisfaction among health care professionals at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital was 54% (95% CI 49.3, 58.8%). The highest level of job satisfaction score among domain factors was observed on staff relationship (77%) and the work itself (75%) (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Level of job satisfaction among healthcare professionals at University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017

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Factors associated with job satisfaction

A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with job satisfaction of health care professionals. Consequently, four variables were found to be statistically associated with job satisfaction after adjusting for confounders. These were marital status, salary, leadership style, and supportive supervision. In this study, married health care professionals were 1.79 times more likely to be satisfied by their job as compared to unmarried health care professionals [AOR = 1.79; 95% CI (1.14, 2.79)]. Health care professionals who had a monthly salary above 6179 ETB were 2.75 times more likely to be satisfied with their job as compared to those who had salary income 6179 ETB and less [AOR = 2.75; 95% CI (1.27–5.96)]. Study participants who experienced democratic way of leadership style from their manager were 2.19 times more likely to be satisfied with their job as compared to those who experienced autocratic style of leadership from their manager [AOR 2.19; 95% CI (1.31–3.65)]. Those respondents who got adequate supportive supervision were 2.05 times more likely to be satisfied with their job as compared to those who did not get adequate supportive supervision for their work [AOR 2.05; 95% CI (1.28–3.32)] (Table 2).

Table 2 Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis of factors with job satisfaction among health care professionals working at University of Gondar Referral hospitals, Ethiopia 2017 (n = 383)
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Discussion

In this study, the overall level of job satisfaction among health care professionals was 54% (95% CI 49.3, 58.8%). This finding is comparable with previous studies conducted in Ethiopia (52.9% in Addis Ababa [21], and 54.2% in East Gojjam Zone [31]) and India (50%) [40]. But, our finding is lower than satisfaction rate reported in Nigeria (90.4%) [41], Nepal (76%) [22], Eastern India (59.6%) [42] and Spain (77.2%) [43]. The possible explanation for the above difference could be due to the difference in socio-economic characteristics and organizational set-up of health care workers. On the other hand, our finding is higher than studies done in Pakistan (41%) [28], Sri Lanka (23.7%) [44], Turkey (45.5%) [24] and in Ethiopia: West Showa Zone (34.9%) [32], Addis Ababa (43.2%) [19], Western Amhara (31.7%) [34], Harar (44.2%) [25], Northwest Ethiopia (46.9%) [45] and West Ethiopia (41.46%) [23]. The possible reasons for this variation might be due to the difference in study population, setting, and time. Another possible explanation for the above variation could be due to the difference in the tools used to measure the outcome variable.

Regards to determinants of job satisfaction, this study has found out that the factors significantly associated were salary, marital status, leadership style and supportive supervision. Health professionals paid high salary were found to be more satisfied with their job as compared to their counterparts. This finding is supported by other studies conducted elsewhere [23, 24, 45,46,47,48]. In addition, this study has found that married health professionals were more likely to be satisfied with their job as compared to their unmarried counterparts. This finding is consistent with studies reported from elsewhere [21, 40, 49]. However, a study conducted in Nepal has found that no such difference was observed between married and unmarried health care professionals [22]. It is possible that married couples are more likely to help each other socially, psychologically and in economic terms.

In relation to supportive supervision, health care professionals who got adequate support supervision in their work were more likely to be satisfied as compared to those who did not get adequate support. This finding is in line with a three country study in Africa [50]. This could be explained by the fact that adequate and effective supportive supervision can motivate staffs leading satisfaction on their job. A negative/critical rather than supportive or an absence of workplace supervision leads dissatisfaction of workers at their job.

Finally, health care professionals who reported a democratic leadership style were more likely to be satisfied with their job than their counterparts. This is consistent with a study in USA [51]. The possible explanation might be due to the fact that workers with democratic way of leadership style might get an opportunity to participate in any decision making process concerning their job. This study revealed a low level of satisfaction of health care professionals. Job satisfaction was significantly associated with marital status, salary, leadership style, and supportive supervision. Therefore, the study hospital manager should give a special emphasis on leadership style, supervision, and salary of health care workers to increase their job satisfaction. Future longitudinal studies should be conducted to identify factors that enhance job satisfaction for the hospital health professionals.

Limitations of the study

Due to the cross-sectional nature of this study, establishing a true cause and effect relationship between job satisfaction and associated factors would be impossible. Since our participants were limited to health workers in University of Gondar referral hospital, the generalization of our findings could be difficult. In addition, we didn’t separately study the job satisfaction across each category of healthcare professionals which might affect a clearer picture of the relationship between job satisfaction and profession.