Intentions to leave and associated factors among laboratory professionals working at Amhara National Regional State public hospitals, Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Objective Laboratory professionals play a vital role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Knowledge of workplace variables that either motivates staff to keep working or quit their jobs is important for decision making. Thus, this study aimed to assess intentions to leave workplace and associated factors among laboratory professionals working at public hospitals of the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Results An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 16 to March 14, 2016, among 336 randomly selected laboratory professionals. The study revealed that 65.5% (95% CI 60–70) of professionals had intentions to leave their hospitals. Dissatisfaction with the provision of educational opportunities (AOR: 3.59, 95% CI 1.61–7.99), poor pays and benefits (AOR: 3.89, 95% CI 1.53–9.89), lack of recognition (AOR: 2.69, 95% CI 1.35–5.38), poor working environments (AOR: 2.77, 95% CI 1.45–3.30), high workload (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI 1.04–3.63), low affective commitment (AOR: 2.05, 95% CI 1.10–3.82), and being unmarried (AOR: 2.46, 95% CI 1.32–4.58) were factors significantly associated with intentions to leave. Magnitude of laboratory professionals’ intention to leave was so high. Healthcare policymakers and hospital managers need to develop and institutionalize evidence-based retention strategies to reduce the intention of laboratory professionals to leave their workplace.

Keywords

• Intention to leave
• Laboratory professionals
• Public hospitals
• Amhara region
• Ethiopia