1.Work-Life Balance and Thoughts of Resignation among Family Health Center Employees
Nadmidtseren G ; Altanchimeg D ; Ichinkhorloo G ; Khongorzul S
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences 2025;88(4):135-138
Background:
In recent years, work-life balance has become a pressing issue for healthcare workers in many developing
countries around the world. An imbalance between work and personal life leads to psychological stress, health problems,
loss of self-confidence, job dissatisfaction, and decreased work productivity due to an inability to concentrate. It also
results in a decline in the quality of treatment and services. Furthermore, it increases the risk of medical errors and contributes to both physical and mental burnout, ultimately leading to resignation.
Aim:
The study analyzed the work-life balance and turnover intentions of employees at family health centers.
Materials and Methods:
The study was conducted using a cross-sectional model and a quantitative survey method. The
work-life balance of employees at Family Health Centers was examined using the work-life balance assessment question
naire developed by Hayman (2005), and turnover intentions were assessed using the standard questionnaire developed
by Auerbach et al. (2014). The research was carried out in 2024. The study included 123 employees from 22 Family
Health Centers located in the Bayangol, Bayanzurkh, Sukhbaatar, Songinokhairkhan, Khan-Uul, and Chingeltei districts
of Ulaanbaatar.
Results:
Of the participants, 95.1% were female, with an average age of 35.2±9.5. Among them, 55.3% were doctors,
29.3% were nurses, 9.8% were health social workers, and 5.7% were other non-medical staff. The income of Family
Health Center employees was found to be insufficient; 8.9% had incomes below the minimum subsistence level, and their
ability to meet basic household needs was very limited. The results show that participants’ work negatively impacted
their personal life (WIPL–23.5), and personal life negatively affected their work (PLIW–15), both of which scored high.
Meanwhile, the positive interaction between work and personal life (WPLE–10.7) was low, indicating a disruption in
their work-life balance. Working overtime was statistically significant in relation to work-life imbalance (p=0.038). As
age and years worked at the current organization increased, the negative impact of work on personal life and personal life
on work tended to decrease.
Conclusion
The work-life balance of Family Health Center employees has been disrupted. The level of work negatively
affecting personal life and personal life negatively affecting work is high. 65% of Family Health Center employees are
considering leaving their current organization, and 41% are considering leaving the healthcare field.
2.A study on socio-economic condition of health care workers
Nadmidtseren G ; Zoljargalan G ; Yerkebulan M ; Jargalsaikhan T ; Avirmed D ; Unurtsetseg Ch ; Munkh-Uchral D ; Munkhnasan Ts ; Erkhes E ; Baigal D ; Sugarmaa M
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2023;205(4):16-27
Background:
It is stated in the Government Programme of 2016-2020 that public servants, including health care workers, shall be given a gradually increased salary based on their skill, dexterity, workload, and productivity, and such increase started from 2018 as planned. In the health sector of our country, regarding demand and regulation of the programme, the change shall be made that the system for median salary of physicians and overall staff employed at hospitals gets even constructive, and the required human resource for the sector shall be prepared. Thus, inferring from these claims, median salary, real wage, and socioeconomic condition are in critical need for further evaluation.
Objective:
To examine the current socio-economic condition of health care workers, and to study the influencing
factors at play.
Methods:
In this study, we used quantitative and qualitative methods. In the survey, we involved 655 health
care workers from 6 family health centers, 2 district hospitals, 3 health centers (district-based) in
Songinokhairkhan, Sukhbaatar, and Baganuur districts; and Provincial hospital, regional diagnosis and
health center, 16 soum health centers from Khovd, Uvs, Arkhangai, Bulgan, Khentii, Dornod, Umnugovi, and Dornogovi provinces, along with 3 National specialized health centers and 1 National central hospital. As for data gathering for the qualitative analysis, 30 focus group interviews and 47 key informant interviews were conducted for the purpose of examining socioeconomic condition, real wage sufficiency of health care workers.
Results:
Average household income of study participants was 1,880,269 tugrik, the real wage was 1,073,065
tugrik, and the overall household is seen to be composed of 2 different sources on average, namely,
self-wage and the income coming from family members or supplement of Child Money Programme. It
has come to notice that 19.5% of the participants have lower than average living standard, 89.2% have
2 different loans (mortgage, auto loan or mobile application based loans). Material deprivation index is
seen to be 2.73, hence deemed as insufficient. In order to increase the real wage of those workers, it
shall be taken into consideration that the basic salary is low, and some financial supplements need to
be given. Furthermore, the performance based funding system of health sector is seen to be in need of
improvement.
Conclusion
Real wage of the health care workers is, thus, insufficient. The fact that one in every five workers in this sector have lower than average living standard, and the material deprivation index is 2.73 implying that the financial lives of health care workers are immensely fragile.
3.Association between psychosocial work environment and health related indicators among health care workers
Sugarmaa M ; Nansalmaa Kh ; Zoljargalan G ; Azzaya Ch ; Avimed D ; Jargalsaikhan T ; Yerkeybulan M ; Baigal D ; Nadmidtseren G
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2023;205(4):28-37
Background:
Psychosocial work environment predicts a range of health risks including sickness absence, poor self
rated health, and depression.
Objective:
To identify association between psychosocial work environment and health related indicators among
health care workers in Mongolia
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April, 2023. 655 health care workers from
Ulaanbaatar city and 4 aimags were involved. Psychosocial work environment was assessed by the
Effort-reward imbalance model. As for the health related indicators, we used the SF-12 questionnaire
and sickness absence report. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed.
The study was approved by Medical Ethics Review Committee on January 18, 2023 (#23/02).
Results:
1 in every 2 health care workers experience effort-reward imbalance at work and rated their health
as poor. In average, 32.7 percent of the study participants took 16.6 sick days for the last 1 year.
The study identified poor physical (44.7±8.6) and mental health functioning (42.1±9.8) among study
participants. Physical functioning was lower among nurses whereas mental health functioning was
lower among physicians.
Conclusion
Poor health related indicators among health care workers are associated with adverse psychosocial
work environment such as effort-reward imbalance and high effort and low reward