Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo1, Akosua Kesewah Asare2,3, Elsie Emelia Yelbert2, Emmanuel Kobia-Acquah2,4, Emmanuel Kofi Addo2,5,6, Eldad Agyei-Manu2,7, Thomas Brusah8, Prince Antwi Asenso9. 1. Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. akuffokwadwoowusu@knust.edu.gh. 2. Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 3. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Ghana. 4. Center for Eye Research Ireland, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. 5. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Centre, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. 6. Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. 7. Usher Institute for Population Health Sciences and Informatics, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. 8. Optical Department, Sight for Africa Eye Clinic, Accra, Ghana. 9. Low Vision Department, Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua, Ghana.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction refers to the feeling of contentment one experiences with their job. Job satisfaction among opticians is a crucial variable in determining their motivation and has consequential influence on the quality of eye health care, systems and services. Nevertheless, little has been done to assess job satisfaction levels among human resources for eye-health, such as opticians, in Ghana. This study assessed (for the first time) the job satisfaction level among opticians in Ghana, and the factors associated with their job satisfaction. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey involving all registered and licensed opticians working in Ghana. A validated, well-structured job satisfaction questionnaire was distributed to 195 opticians across all regions of the country. The questionnaire was composed of 15-item job satisfaction variables which were measured on a five-point Likert scale ('1-strongly disagree' to '5-strongly agree'). Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between sociodemographic characteristics and factors of job satisfaction, and the overall job satisfaction level. RESULTS: A total of 101 opticians responded to the study. The mean presenting age of all participants was 25.3 ± 5.0 years (21 to 47 years), with majority being males (57.4%). The mean score of the overall job satisfaction level reported by participants was 2.65, with 12.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.0-21.0%) of them being satisfied with their jobs. There was no statistically significant association between overall job satisfaction and sociodemographic characteristics (p > 0.05; for all). Only salary was significantly associated with overall level of job satisfaction (odds ratio [OR]: 16.5; 95% CI: 2.06-132.86; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Majority of opticians working in Ghana were not satisfied with their jobs. Enhancing salary/remuneration would improve the job satisfaction level among opticians in the country. There is the need for effective management of human resources for eye-health (particularly opticians) and policy revision on ophthalmic healthcare administration in Ghana.
BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction refers to the feeling of contentment one experiences with their job. Job satisfaction among opticians is a crucial variable in determining their motivation and has consequential influence on the quality of eye health care, systems and services. Nevertheless, little has been done to assess job satisfaction levels among human resources for eye-health, such as opticians, in Ghana. This study assessed (for the first time) the job satisfaction level among opticians in Ghana, and the factors associated with their job satisfaction. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey involving all registered and licensed opticians working in Ghana. A validated, well-structured job satisfaction questionnaire was distributed to 195 opticians across all regions of the country. The questionnaire was composed of 15-item job satisfaction variables which were measured on a five-point Likert scale ('1-strongly disagree' to '5-strongly agree'). Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between sociodemographic characteristics and factors of job satisfaction, and the overall job satisfaction level. RESULTS: A total of 101 opticians responded to the study. The mean presenting age of all participants was 25.3 ± 5.0 years (21 to 47 years), with majority being males (57.4%). The mean score of the overall job satisfaction level reported by participants was 2.65, with 12.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.0-21.0%) of them being satisfied with their jobs. There was no statistically significant association between overall job satisfaction and sociodemographic characteristics (p > 0.05; for all). Only salary was significantly associated with overall level of job satisfaction (odds ratio [OR]: 16.5; 95% CI: 2.06-132.86; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Majority of opticians working in Ghana were not satisfied with their jobs. Enhancing salary/remuneration would improve the job satisfaction level among opticians in the country. There is the need for effective management of human resources for eye-health (particularly opticians) and policy revision on ophthalmic healthcare administration in Ghana.
Entities:
Keywords:
Dispensing optician; Factors; Ghana; Human resource; Job satisfaction; Opticians
Authors: Christine A Sinsky; Rachel Willard-Grace; Andrew M Schutzbank; Thomas A Sinsky; David Margolius; Thomas Bodenheimer Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2013 May-Jun Impact factor: 5.166