Working relationships between obstetric care staff and their managers: a critical incident analysis

Background Malawi continues to experience critical shortages of key health technical cadres that can adequately respond to Malawi’s disease burden. Difficult working conditions contribute to low morale and frustration among health care workers. We aimed to understand how obstetric care staff perceive their working relationships with managers. Methods A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in health facilities in Malawi between October and December 2008. Critical Incident Analysis interviews were done in government district hospitals, faith-based health facilities, and a sample of health centres’ providing emergency obstetric care. A total of 84 service providers were interviewed. Data were analyzed using NVivo 8 software. Results Poor leadership styles affected working relationships between obstetric care staff and their managers. Main concerns were managers’ lack of support for staff welfare and staff performance, lack of mentorship for new staff and junior colleagues, as well as inadequate supportive supervision. All this led to frustrations, diminished motivation, lack of interest in their job and withdrawal from work, including staff seriously considering leaving their post. Conclusions Positive working relationships between obstetric care staff and their managers are essential for promoting staff motivation and positive work performance. However, this study revealed that staff were demotivated and undermined by transactional leadership styles and behavior, evidenced by management by exception and lack of feedback or recognition. A shift to transformational leadership in nurse-manager relationships is essential to establish good working relationships with staff. Improved providers’ job satisfaction and staff retentionare crucial to the provision of high quality care and will also ensure efficiency in health care delivery in Malawi

The Effects of Physical Activity on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Working Mothers Living in Amman: A Correlational Study

Aya Abu Aqab,1 Mahmoud AL-Hussami,2 Wafa Almegewly,3 Savvato Karavasileiadou3 1School of Medicine, the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 2The University of Jordan, School of Nursing, Amman, 11942, Jordan; 3Department of Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Wafa Almegewly, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: Jordan has a high prevalence of physical inactivity, a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Working mothers are a high-risk group who face significant barriers to physical activity and experience a decline in their quality of life.Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the potential impact of physical activity adherence on health-related quality of life and physical fitness among a sample of working mothers.Patients and Methods: A Correlational, retrospective analytical design, was employed among a sample of working mothers (n=120), from Amman and was divided into two comparison groups. Data collection included a self-reported questionnaire using a demographic questionnaire, a health perception scale, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form, the International Fitness Scale, and the Quality of Life Brief questionnaire. The statistical analysis was independent t-test analysis, analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA), Pearson r correlation and regression used to estimate the prediction of dependent variables based on independent variables.Results: The results found a significant positive relationship between physical activity and overall quality of life and its domains (physical, psychological, and environmental); however, there was no statistically significant difference in the social domain. Adherence to physical activity was a significant positive predictor of quality of life. Moreover, the health perception level was a significant positive predictor. A t-test revealed a statistically significant difference between the physically active group and a sedentary group of working mothers regarding changes in Health-Related Quality of Life; physically active mothers are more likely to have better physical (p < 0.024), psychological (p < 0.001), and overall quality of life (p < 0.011). Furthermore, Physical fitness significantly predicted physical activity in the study results.Conclusion: This study confirms the existence of positive correlations between physical activity and working women’s quality of life and physical fitness. Mothers with higher levels of physical activity are more likely to have better physical, psychological, and environmental domains of quality of life and better physical fitness.Keywords: physical activity, health-related quality of life, working mothers, physical fitness, Jorda

Healthcare providers' intention to leave their jobs during COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Background and Aims During the coronavirus pandemic (COVID‐19), healthcare providers confronted risks of disease transmission to themselves and their family members, resulting in physical and psychological burdens. This might affect their decisions to leave their jobs temporarily or permanently, fearing infection and protecting their families. This study examined the factors related to the intention to leave a job among healthcare providers during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Jordan. Methods A cross‐sectional correlational design was used to collect data using a convenience sample of 557 healthcare providers working in different sectors across Jordan. Data were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire about the intention to leave jobs during the pandemic. Results The sample included 368 females (63.8%) and 209 males (36.6%) participants. The mean age of participants was 30.8 years (SD = 6.65). Differences found in intention to leave job during COVID‐19 in relation to age (t = 2.60, p < 0.05), gender (X2 = 4.25, p < 0.001), and marital status (X2 = 18.2, p < 0.001). Participants with a high risk of exposure to COVID‐19 and who experienced higher workloads had higher scores of intention to leave their job during COVID‐19, while being married had lower scores. Conclusions Policy‐makers need to pay attention to young and single healthcare providers during the COVID‐19 pandemic to prevent them leave their job. Crucial guidelines for managing workload during the COVID‐19 pandemic are needed. Policy‐makers during pandemics have to protect healthcare providers who feel they are at high risk of infection