Determinants of Workplace Happiness among General Physicians (GPs) in Royal Thai Government Hospitals, under the Oversight of the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health

Abstract

This research endeavors to investigate the determinants affecting the levels of happiness of general physicians (GPs) within the Royal Thai Government Hospital, under the purview of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health. Research objectives include exploring these determinants, analyzing their associations with GPs’ happiness, and proposing strategies to enhance the retention of these healthcare professionals. The sample group was selected through the Multi-Stage Sampling Technique, categorizing general physicians (GPs) into four regions based on Thailand's administrative divisions. One public hospital per region was chosen under the jurisdiction of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health using area sampling. The sample comprised 726 individuals. Subsequently, employing Yamane's formula, a sample of 260 GPs from these hospitals underwent surveying. Quantitative methodology was applied, with a survey questionnaire serving as the research instrument. Data collected from the questionnaire were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) to compute various statistics. Hypothesis testing was conducted to compare differences in job satisfaction factors, with distinctions based on personal demographics such as gender analyzed using T-tests. For variables such as age, educational level, monthly income, and work experience, Pearson correlation coefficients were used to ascertain the direction and strength of correlations. Multiple regression analysis was employed to analyze the factors influencing levels of job satisfaction. The findings reveal that while educational attainment does not significantly impact GP happiness, variables such as age, professional tenure, and monthly income demonstrate notable associations with GPs’ happiness. Additionally, GPs’ happiness exhibits a marked correlation with various aspects of job satisfaction, including opportunities for career progression, the quality of the working environment, job security, and proficiency in job-related skills. Recommendations for hospital management entail reallocating budgetary resources, facilitating avenues for career advancement, and ensuring a fair distribution of GPs’ workloads to accommodate their physical and mental well-being. These measures are proposed to augment GPs’ happiness and address the challenges of GPs’ attrition within the Royal Thai Government Hospital, under the auspices of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health.