Health worker motivation and some solutions for improvement at Phu My District Health Centre - Binh Dinh

Nguyen Dinh Hoang1*, Nguyen Thanh Huong2

1Phu My District Health Centre - Binh Dinh

2Hanoi University of Public Health

Objective: This study was conducted to provide an overall picture and then shed some light on measures to improve motivation among health workers in Phu My district health centre – Binh Dinh in 2017.

Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional design applying a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Firstly, qualitative data was collected via self-administered questionnaire among the entire 295 health workers. Motivation to work was measured by a seven-component scale with 23 items. Then, quantitative data were collected from 10 in-depth interviews and 5 focus groups discussions among managers, representatives from departments, teams and commune health stations.

Main findings: health worker motivation was low (57.5%); this percentage at district was lower than communelevels (54.9% and 60.2% respectively), clinical and subclinical departments were lower than preventive and administrative ones (47.7% and 61.4%). Motivation among managers (60.8%) was higher than health practitioners (54.2%). Several solutions to improve work motivation were appropriate deployment according to workload, capacity; acknowledging and encouraging health workersat both district and commune levels; higher salary and bonus could also be given especially to clinical and subclinical workers at district level; improving working environment and facilities; developing a clear career path and implementing effectively human resources policies to attract talents for district level.

Conclusions: Health worker motivation at both district and commune levels was low, so priority should be given to implement several solutions to improve especially for health workers at district level.

Keywords: work motivation, health worker, solutions, district health centre, commune health station.

*Corresponding author: Nguyen Dinh Hoang 

Work place: Phu My District Health Centre - Binh Dinh

Email: ndhck2@gmail.com