Factors associated with job satisfaction among occupational therapists, physiotherapists and midwives in Switzerland: A cross-sectional analysis of data from the Swiss COhort of Healthcare Professionals and Informal CAregivers (SCOHPICA) survey

Description

Background

Like many countries, Switzerland faces a shortage of skilled labour in the health care professions. In light of this trend, the Federal Council’s health policy strategy 2020–2030 (Health2030) calls for measures to increase job retention among practicing health profes-sionals. Job satisfaction is a key factor related to job retention. But beyond that, job satisfaction is related to workers‘ mental and physical health and well-being. To increase job satisfaction of health care professionals in Switzerland, a better understanding of the fac-tors influencing their job satisfaction is needed.

The Swiss Cohort of Healthcare Profession-als and Informal Caregivers (SCOHPICA) survey has been collecting data related to Swiss health professionals‘ working conditions, professionals trajectories and well-being, including job satisfaction, every year since 2022. There has not yet been an analysis of this data regarding factors that influence job satisfaction. Our consortium, consisting of researchers in occupational therapy, physiotherapy and midwifery at ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences and BFH Bern University of Applied Sciences as well as representatives of the SCOHPICA project, aims to examine which factors are associated with job satisfaction among occupational therapists, physiother-apists and midwives in Switzerland, based on an analysis of SCOHPICA data.

Methods

We will analyse data for occupational therapists (n=365), physiotherapists (n=566) and mid-wives (n=516) who took part in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 SCOHPICA baseline surveys. Using uni- and bivariate analyses and linear regression analysis, we will identify and describe factors that are associated with job satisfaction.

Relevance

The identification of factors that are closely associated with higher or lower job satisfaction of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and midwives is relevant for employers, professional associations, and policy makers.

For employers, this information can inform measures to attract and retain qualified personnel. For professional associations, it can inform initiatives to improve working conditions for their members and deliver valuable statistical information about their working conditions. And for policy makers, it can inform measures to increase job retention among practicing health professionals. 

Key data