Desired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background In outpatient care in Germany, medical assistants (MAs) are the contact persons for patients’ concerns and their working conditions are relevant to their own health and the provided quality of care. MAs working conditions have been described as precarious leading to high levels o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-019-0237-x |
| _version_ | 1797999110702235648 |
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| author | Jessica Scharf Patricia Vu-Eickmann Jian Li Andreas Müller Stefan Wilm Peter Angerer Adrian Loerbroks |
| author_facet | Jessica Scharf Patricia Vu-Eickmann Jian Li Andreas Müller Stefan Wilm Peter Angerer Adrian Loerbroks |
| author_sort | Jessica Scharf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In outpatient care in Germany, medical assistants (MAs) are the contact persons for patients’ concerns and their working conditions are relevant to their own health and the provided quality of care. MAs working conditions have been described as precarious leading to high levels of work stress. Consequently, we aimed to examine MAs’ needs for work-related improvements. Methods We surveyed 887 employed MAs between September 2016 and April 2017. A 20-item questionnaire measured desired improvements. To measure correlations between variables we computed a matrix of tetrachoric correlations for binary variables and performed an exploratory factor analysis. We ran ordinal logistic regression models employing 11 independent variables to examine determinants of needs. Results A total of 97.3% of the participants expressed any need and, on average, 10.27 needs were reported. Most frequently, needs were expressed related to a higher salary (87.0%), less documentation (76.0%) and more recognition from society (75.4%). Exploratory factor analysis suggested three dimensions of needs for work-related improvements (i.e. working conditions, reward from the supervisor and task-related independence). Ordinal logistic regression models only identified determinants for the outcome variable task-related independence, which was more frequent in those with longer work experience or in a leadership position. Conclusions The high prevalence of desired workplace-related improvements among MAs highlights the relevance of modifying their working conditions. The fact that we found only few determinants signals that there are no specific high-risk subgroups, but interventions to improve MAs’ working conditions should target the entire MA population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:59:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ffd67e7c3c149008e2c7b80363f3f64 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6673 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:59:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ffd67e7c3c149008e2c7b80363f3f642022-12-22T04:28:40ZengBMCJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology1745-66732019-06-0114111110.1186/s12995-019-0237-xDesired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional studyJessica Scharf0Patricia Vu-Eickmann1Jian Li2Andreas Müller3Stefan Wilm4Peter Angerer5Adrian Loerbroks6Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of DüsseldorfInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of DüsseldorfInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of DüsseldorfInstitute of Psychology, Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Duisburg-EssenInstitute of General Practice, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of DüsseldorfInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of DüsseldorfInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of DüsseldorfAbstract Background In outpatient care in Germany, medical assistants (MAs) are the contact persons for patients’ concerns and their working conditions are relevant to their own health and the provided quality of care. MAs working conditions have been described as precarious leading to high levels of work stress. Consequently, we aimed to examine MAs’ needs for work-related improvements. Methods We surveyed 887 employed MAs between September 2016 and April 2017. A 20-item questionnaire measured desired improvements. To measure correlations between variables we computed a matrix of tetrachoric correlations for binary variables and performed an exploratory factor analysis. We ran ordinal logistic regression models employing 11 independent variables to examine determinants of needs. Results A total of 97.3% of the participants expressed any need and, on average, 10.27 needs were reported. Most frequently, needs were expressed related to a higher salary (87.0%), less documentation (76.0%) and more recognition from society (75.4%). Exploratory factor analysis suggested three dimensions of needs for work-related improvements (i.e. working conditions, reward from the supervisor and task-related independence). Ordinal logistic regression models only identified determinants for the outcome variable task-related independence, which was more frequent in those with longer work experience or in a leadership position. Conclusions The high prevalence of desired workplace-related improvements among MAs highlights the relevance of modifying their working conditions. The fact that we found only few determinants signals that there are no specific high-risk subgroups, but interventions to improve MAs’ working conditions should target the entire MA population.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-019-0237-xHealth occupationMedical assistantsWorking conditionsNeeds assessmentCross-sectional study |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Scharf Patricia Vu-Eickmann Jian Li Andreas Müller Stefan Wilm Peter Angerer Adrian Loerbroks Desired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional study Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology Health occupation Medical assistants Working conditions Needs assessment Cross-sectional study |
| title | Desired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Desired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Desired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Desired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Desired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in Germany: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | desired improvements of working conditions among medical assistants in germany a cross sectional study |
| topic | Health occupation Medical assistants Working conditions Needs assessment Cross-sectional study |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-019-0237-x |
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