
20 June 2024
Research explains why staff flee the healthcare sector
Factors such as good leadership, time to consult colleagues, balance between demands and control, social support and a continuity in the organisation affect the willingness of healthcare workers to stay in the sector. These are the results in a rapid literature review conducted by two researchers in Human Work Science, at Luleå University of Technology.
A recently published report from the Swedish National Health Competence Council shows that in 2021, more than 13,000 trained nurses were not employed in the healthcare sector. According to the report, this represents a cost to society of SEK 5.5 billion. According to the National Health Competence Council, an important reason why so many leave nursing is deficiencies in the work environment.
"Our research review provides strong support for the National Health Competence Council's conclusion that poor working conditions are behind the high number of staff leaving the healthcare sector," says Senior Lecturer Fredrik Sjögren, who conducted the study together with Professor Karolina Parding.
Nordic research
The two researchers analysed a total of 73 research articles published between 2010 and 2020 that address willingness to stay in the Nordic healthcare sector.
"Healthcare and education systems are relatively similar in the Nordic countries. We therefore believe that general conclusions can be drawn from the study that are valid for all Nordic countries," says Karolina Parding.
The literature review showed that a balance between demands on how work is performed and control over one's own work tasks, high social support, good leadership, opportunities for professional development, organisational continuity and the absence of heavy physical exertion, all have a positive effect on the ability to retain staff.
"The findings are not really that surprising, but it shows what key areas employers and other healthcare decision-makers need to focus on to retain staff," says Karolina Parding.
In recent decades, healthcare has undergone several organisational changes. The literature review cannot answer whether it is the organisational changes themselves that cause many to leave the healthcare profession or whether it depends on the type of organisational changes.
"However, it is reasonable to assume that organisational changes that, for example, increase the gap between demands and control negatively affect the willingness to stay. The results also point to the risks of implementing organisational changes without scientific knowledge about the effects they may have," says Fredrik Sjögren.
The conflict is about working hours
The ongoing laobur market conflict in the healthcare sector in Sweden is not about pay but about working hours. Fredrik Sjögren notes that pay levels were not among the factors he and Karolina Parding identified in their literature review.
"Vårdförbundet's (the Swedish Association of Health Professionals) demand for shorter working hours can be linked to the gap between demands and control. Demands for shorter working hours are a common response to high workloads."
The literature review shows that the vast majority of studies are conducted on nurses and doctors. Other occupational groups in healthcare are not as well researched. Furthermore, almost all studies are quantitative.
"More qualitative studies and studies of other healthcare professionals are needed to get a clearer picture. Furthermore, more research is needed to show what is required for the positive factors we have identified to materialize," says Karolina Parding.
- The article is published in the Nordic Journal of Working Life Science
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Contact
Karolina Parding
- Professor, Excellent lärare
- 0920-493029
- karolina.parding@ltu.se
- Karolina Parding
Fredrik Sjögren
- Universitetslektor
- 0920-492429
- fredrik.sjogren@ltu.se
- Fredrik Sjögren
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