Open AccessJob satisfaction, organisation commitment and retention in the public workforce: a survey among pharmacists in M alaysia
Author(s) -
Chua Gin Nie,
Yee Lai Jiuan,
Sim Bee Ai,
Tan Keat Hin,
Sin Ng Khai,
Hassali Mohammed Azmi,
Shafie Asrul Akmal,
Ooi Guat See
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.42
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 2042-7174
pISSN - 0961-7671
DOI - 10.1111/ijpp.12077
Subject(s) - medicine , workforce , job satisfaction , nursing , family medicine , management , economic growth , economics
Objectives The aims of the study were to assess job satisfaction and organisational commitment among pharmacists working in the public sector and its influence on their likelihood to stay within the public workforce. Methods A cross‐sectional survey was conducted among all fully registered pharmacists ( FRP s) in the northern states of M alaysia in 2009 ( n = 467). The questionnaire consisted of three sections to capture the demographic characteristics of the respondents, assess job satisfaction and organisational commitment of the respondents and their likelihood of staying in public service. Key findings A total of 247 FRP s (response rate 52.9%) in the northern region of M alaysia participated in this survey. Majority of the respondents were women ( n = 205, 83.0%), of Chinese ethnicity ( n = 155, 62.8%), graduates from public universities ( n = 173, 70.0%), single ( n = 172, 69.6%), with a median age of 27 years (interquartile range ( IQR ) 2.0) and had worked with the M inistry of H ealth for a median of 2.75 years ( IQR 1.63). The mean job satisfaction and organisational commitment score were 58.09 (standard deviation ( SD ) 11.83) and 53.46 ( SD 6.65) respectively out of a maximum possible score of 90. Majority of the respondents claimed that they were likely to stay in public service ( n = 176, 71.3%). Their likelihood of staying in public service was affected by respondents’ gender, ethnicity, job satisfaction and organisational commitment. Conclusions The findings from this study provide stakeholders with evidence on factors and issues affecting pharmacists’ job satisfaction and commitment in the public workforce as well as the likely turnover rate with an early cohort of pharmacists affected by the compulsory service.