Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on quality of work life of nurses – a major human rights component
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare
ISSN: 2056-4902
Article publication date: 29 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate and compare the quality of work life (QWL) of nurses, in pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic situations.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts a descriptive research design. Data were collected during the pre- and post-pandemic periods. The target sampling unit of the study comprises nurses working in Bangalore city, Karnataka, India. The minimum sample size was determined (Bartlett et al., 2001) as 385. The scale validation is carried out. The factors for the present study were explored using exploratory factor analysis and confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Model fitness (proposed measurement model) is ensured by using fit indices. The linear regression method was used to measure the level of QWL of nurses.
Findings
The present study noted that key factors that affects the QWL of nursing staff are work condition; work environment; work-life balance; compensation and reward; career development; job satisfaction and security; organization culture; relationship among co-workers and stress. Further, it is noticed that QWL of nurses pre-COVID-19 pandemic is 87.2%, while post-COVID-19 pandemic, it is 67%.
Research limitations/implications
Present study can be extended to address the same research question by considering sampling unit such as therapist, technicians and sanitarians who have equally undergone tremendous pressure during pandemic.
Practical implications
The study outcome provides references for organizations engaged in health services to understand the extreme job conditions posed by pandemic. The constructive inspiration (physio-social and organizational support) reinforces the nurses to continue in their professions by decreasing negative impact.
Originality/value
The research paper extends the contributions of Hwang (2002), Nikeghbal et al. (2021), Howie–Esquivel et al. (2022) and Rania et al. (2023) and add to the existing body of the QWL literature. The outcome of the research records the prevailing conditions of pandemic and its effect on changes in work environment with specific reference to health-care sector.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their gratitude to JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru, JSS Academy of Technical education, Bengaluru, JSS Science and Technology University, Mysuru, Karnataka, India, for their encouragement to write this research paper. The author expresses their sincere thanks to all the authors of source materials cited at the reference. They also express their sincere thanks to editorial team for their valuable guidance and providing useful comments, observations and suggestions, which led to the improvement of this article.
Citation
T.S., N., Bharath, S., Nagesh, P. and K.M., V. (2023), "Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on quality of work life of nurses – a major human rights component", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-01-2023-0001
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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