A Case Study on the Job Satisfaction of Registered Medical Technologists Working In Metro Manila, Philippines during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The medical technology profession has been given more importance as COVID-19 pandemic arrives in the Philippines in March 2020. Workload in the laboratory and the hospital has never been put under pressure with the large number of patients along with a contagious virus that continuously raises the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, all of which could impact the job satisfaction and work performance of the medical technologists. The primary aim of this research is to assess the job satisfaction level of the Registered Medical Technologists working in Metro Manila, Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as identify the factors that significantly influence job satisfaction. The research employs a cross-sectional survey and a purposive sampling technique comprising 97 participants based on Metro Manila, Philippines. The questionnaire was based on Paul E. Spector’s Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) with a six-point, agree-disagree response choices, covering different facets in job satisfaction. Pearson’s Correlation analysis, One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and independent-samples t-test were used to evaluate and assess the significance of each facet and the significant difference between the groups regarding job satisfaction level, respectively. Most of the participants (68.04%) were ambivalent with regards to the overall job satisfaction. Generally, there is dissatisfaction with the facets pay (56.70%), promotion (45.36%), contingent rewards (44.33%), and operating conditions (52.58%). Satisfied results show with the facets supervision (74.23%), co-workers (47.42%), nature of work (73.20%), and communication (59.79%). With regards to fringe benefits facet, the participants were both dissatisfied and ambivalent (40.21%). Pearson Correlation Analysis was conducted and showed that all facets were significant to overall job satisfaction (p < .05), and displayed positive correlation to overall job satisfaction (r > .20). The results for salary range and the type of laboratory showed a significant difference (p < .05) whereas the results for age, biological sex, classification of laboratory, availability of COVID-19 testing services, and year of experience showed no significant difference (p > .05). The majority of the respondents were neither generally satisfied nor generally dissatisfied, rather ambivalent about job satisfaction. The respondents are generally dissatisfied with regards to Pay, Promotion, Contingent Rewards, and Operating Conditions while they are generally satisfied with Supervision, Co-Workers, Nature of Work, and Communication. Also, two of the greater number of respondents corresponds with either generally dissatisfied or ambivalent towards Fringe Benefits. All of the facets have a significant relationship and positive correlation to the overall job satisfaction level. As for the sociodemographic factors, only the type of laboratory and salary range have significant differences in job satisfaction level among different groups. It would be ideal to include Registered Medical Technologists from different regions across the country, aside from NCR, for a wider sample size and scope of respondents to achieve more accurate results. Modifying the sociodemographic profile of the respondents can create more divisions of groups which can achieve a better depiction of how the job satisfaction level is affected. It is also recommended to include other classifications of laboratories (by function and service capability) as well as the position of the medical technologist since this may explain their salary and benefits as well as their responsibilities. A comparative analysis of this study and the job satisfaction in pre-pandemic context could also be performed.