A model to enhance job satisfaction for radiographers employed at selected public tertiary hospitals in the Gauteng province, South Africa

Abstract

Background In South Africa, there is maldistribution of health care professionals between the public and the private sector and between rural and urban areas. Radiographers are no exception to this maldistribution as only 29% are employed by the public sector and 70% are employed by the private sector. Therefore, there is a need to attract and retain radiographers in the public sector to deliver efficient imaging and therapeutic services. Hence, job satisfaction has been identified as one of the important factors in attracting and retaining health care professionals. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the role of intrinsic and extrinsic factors of job satisfaction amongst radiographers employed by public tertiary hospitals in the Gauteng province and develop a model to enhance job satisfaction and improve retention in the public sector. Methodology Exploratory sequential mixed methods design was used to conduct this study in two phases. Phase 1 was conducted through focus group discussions with five purposefully selected radiographers employed by public tertiary hospitals in the Gauteng province. The findings of Phase 1 were used to develop a questionnaire for conducting a survey in Phase 2 of the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from participants in four selected public tertiary hospitals. A total of 182 questionnaires were completed, returned and analysed. The results of the two phases were integrated. Thematic analysis of data was used to identify themes from qualitative data. SPSS, version 23 and statistical analysis tests were used to analyse quantitative data. Findings The results from the two phases of data collection showed that the lack of career pathing was the intrinsic factor that affected job satisfaction. There were four extrinsic factors that affected job satisfaction, namely, government policies, unsatisfactory remuneration, working conditions and the inefficiency of the human relations department. The factors that were identified by participants as having a negative effect on job satisfaction were associated with a greater intent to leave and those that had a positive effect were associated with organizational commitment. The outcome of the study led to the development of a model to enhance job satisfaction for radiographers.