How do working conditions affect the turnover intention of medical social workers in China?

Background The development of medical social work is an indispensable part of the Healthy China Strategy. However, the medical service field has the fewest social workers in all service fields in China. Creating favorable working conditions can reduce the turnover intention of social workers in the medical service field. So it is necessary to integrate the existing theoretical models to deeply analyze the multiple influencing paths of working conditions on the medical social workers’ turnover intention in the context of China. Methods The data we used came from the China Social Work Longitudinal Survey (CSWLS) conducted in 56 cities across the country in 2019. It adopted a multi-stage random sampling method and the sample of medical social workers was selected according to their current service field and the sample size finally entering the model was 382. We tested the relationships with the Structural Equation Model (SEM) by STATA 16.0. Results Job-related stress play the most significant role in explaining the formation mechanism of medical social workers’ turnover intention. On the one hand, job-related stress can reduce the job satisfaction of medical social workers, further increasing their turnover intention; on the other hand, job-related stress can increase job burnout of medical social workers, further reducing their job satisfaction and ultimately increasing the turnover intention. Job satisfaction plays a full mediating effect between the job burnout of medical social workers and their turnover intention. The social support and job autonomy provided by social work agencies have limited effects on decreasing the turnover intention of medical social workers. Conclusions The two paths of job-related stress affecting turnover intention successfully integrate the Job Demands-Resources Model and the Price-Mueller Turnover Model into the same theoretical framework providing a theoretical basis for reducing the turnover intention and behavior of social workers in the medical service field, improving the management level in the medical service system and promoting the overall healthy and sustainable development of medical social work in China.

Measurement Methods of Fatigue, Sleepiness, and Sleep Behaviour Aboard Ships: A Systematic Review

Since seafarers are known to be exposed to numerous job-related stress factors that can cause fatigue, sleepiness, and disturbed sleep behaviour, the aim of this review was to provide an overview of the subjective and objective measurement methods of these strains. Using a systematic review, 166 studies were identified within the period of January 2010 to December 2020 using the PubMed database. Of the 21 studies selected, 13 used both subjective and objective measurement methods. Six studies used only subjective and two studies only objective methods. For subjective assessment, 12 different questionnaires could be identified as well as activity and sleeping logs. Actigraphy and reaction time tests (RTT) were the most common objective methods. In single cases, electrooculography (EOG), pupillometry and ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) were used. Measurement-related limitations due to vessel-related impacts were less often reported than expected. No restrictions of daily routines on board were described, and only single-measurement disturbances due to ship movements were mentioned. The present literature review reveals that there are various routines to measure fatigue, sleepiness, and sleep behaviour on board. A combination of subjective and objective methods often appears to be beneficial. The frequent use of actigraphy and RTT on board suggests good feasibility and reliable measurements with these methods. The use of ambulatory PSG in maritime-like contexts suggests that this method would also be feasible on board.

Examining the Influence of Academic and Non-academic Responsibilities on Academicians’ Job-related Stress in Higher Education

Academicians are commonly associated with academic tasks of teaching and research. However, recent scenario reveals that academicians’ workloads are not restricted to merely academic tasks. Academicians also hold administrative positions, involved with students’ development activities, community services and professional development. Shouldering with numerous responsibilities, academicians may be stressful to prioritize the assigned tasks and meeting deadlines. This necessitates serious attention to ensure that academicians can focus on the assigned responsibilities and perform their best. Thus, this study attempts to establish a relationship between academic and non-academic responsibilities with job-related stress among academicians. Through survey method, 120 usable responses received out of 391 questionnaires distributed to academicians in a public university. Using SPSS, a preliminary analysis indicates that the respondents were moderately stressful with their job. However, multiple regressions test demonstrates that job-related stress is not influenced by academic responsibilities but marginally contributed by non-academic responsibilities. The findings give insights to the university management on academicians’ reaction to their present job tasks and useful as guidance in any efforts or policy towards academicians’ workload setting. However, this study is confined to only one public university in the East coast region of Malaysia. Thus, future research may be expanded to the public universities in the West region of Malaysia with different working environment and lifestyle. Keywords Academicians, Academic Responsibilities, Non-academic responsibilities, Job-related Stress, Teaching workloads

Assessment of occupational stress and its associated factors among health care professionals working in Gurage Zone Public Hospitals in Southern Ethiopia

Background: Job-related stress is harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job don’t match the capabilities and needs of the worker. Therefore, if work isn’t properly managed, job stress can happen that leads to illness, absenteeism, high turnover, and decreased productivity that compromise provision of quality service to clients. Workers are backbones of countries development that are at risk of different occupational stresses. And, there’s no information about job-related stress among healthcare professionals and predicting factors around the study area. So, this study is aimed to assess occupational related stress and predicting factors among health care professional working in Gurage Zone public hospitals, Southern Ethiopia by August 2021. Method: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess occupational related stress and predicting factors among health care professionals. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 345 study participants. The data was collected and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version.23. The association between dependent and independent variables were checked by using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. Finally, descriptive writings, tables and graphs were used to describe study variables. Result: The result showed that the prevalence of occupation (work-related) stress among healthcare professionals was 78.3%. Wards in which healthcare professionals are working, position of healthcare professionals, working hour and work shift have significant association with stress status of respondents. When compared to Medical ward, professionals working in other wards were 1.62 times more likely to have stress [AOR 1.62 (1.23, 2.13)]. Also, when compared to respondents who are working for 8 hour per day, those working more than 8 hour per day were 70 times more likely to have stress [AOR 70 (85, 582)]. Discussion and Conclusion: According to this study three out of four respondents were found to have stress among healthcare professionals. Regular trainings for healthcare professional should be needed in public hospitals to reduce stresses.

A formal model of street-level bureaucracy

Different from a classic Weberian bureaucracy, public service bureaucrats directly interact with citizens at the frontlines of government. These first responders use their discretion to meet some citizens’ needs but deliberately overlook the other clients. What lies beneath the street-level bureaucrats’ behavior in their contacts with citizens? This study develops a model to explain how street-level bureaucrats are motivated to move toward the public and the extent to which they are engaged in helping their citizens. The model is driven by costs and benefits of behavior based on the assumption that street-level bureaucrats are rational actors trying to maximize their utility. However, utility here is defined as more than self-interest; it is the set of outcomes valued by the bureaucrats such as reducing job-related stress, pursuing work-generated ends, serving needy citizens, and implementing good public policy.

Online survey among maritime pilots: job-related stress and strain and the effects on their work ability

Background Maritime pilots often navigate ships through challenging waterways. The required 24 h standby rotation system (ROS) poses a stressful working situation. This study aims to describe the current job-related stress and strain among maritime pilots and the effects on their work ability, taking into account the different rotation systems. Methods Within a cross-sectional survey, pilots of all German pilots’ associations were asked to complete an online questionnaire. The 1-week ROS (port pilots) was compared with the 4-month ROS (sea and canal pilots). The pilots’ subjective perception of stress and strain was assessed using an established ship-specific questionnaire. Daily sleepiness and work ability were examined respectively using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Work Ability Index (WAI). Results The study group consisted of 401 male German pilots with an average age of 48.5 years (participation rate 46.9%). More than 50% of the pilots evaluated irregular working hours as the main stressor in their job. 79.8% of the pilots (especially 4-month ROS) experienced high psychological demands in their workplace. 83.3% stated having regularly neglected their private obligations due to job assignments. Pilots from the 4-month ROS experienced insufficiently predictable free time and long operation times at a stretch as stressors (p < 0.001 and p = 0.037). Elevated daily sleepiness was found in 41.9% of the pilots. The overall evaluation of the WAI questionnaire showed good to very good work ability at 77.3%. Additionally, no significant differences in the daily sleepiness or the work ability were observed between the pilots of the different two ROS. Conclusions Due to their subjectively higher job-related mental demands, their disturbed work-life balance, and their long operation times at a stretch, it is likely that pilots from the 4-month ROS have significantly higher job stress compared to those in the 1-week ROS. However, this does not lead to more sleepiness or reduced work ability, which suggests that the pilots of this ROS are highly adapted to their working situation. Nevertheless, intervention measures with shortened ROS amongst sea and canal pilots’ associations should be tested in respect of benefit, practicability and acceptance by the pilots.