Job (dis-)satisfaction in pay-for-performance health care contexts: a meta-synthesis of qualitative literature
International Journal of Public Sector Management
ISSN: 0951-3558
Article publication date: 7 November 2023
Issue publication date: 5 December 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the pay-for-performance (P4P) and job satisfaction literatures through an analysis of qualitative studies published on the topic, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a P4P-based system on job satisfaction and dissatisfaction among health care workers.
Design/methodology/approach
A meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature was conducted to investigate health care workers' opinions, perceptions and behaviors and fully understand what processes generate job satisfaction or dissatisfaction under P4P systems.
Findings
The findings suggest that P4P systems impact the job (dis-)satisfaction of health care workers based on the institutional, organizational, geographic and cultural context of reference. Specifically, job satisfaction – and thus motivation, occupational well-being and work engagement – can occur when the context is supportive, whereas job dissatisfaction – and thus work stress and pressure, burnout and work-life balance issues and distraction – is generated in the case of unsupportive contexts. Moreover, the findings suggest a virtuous/vicious circle whereby job satisfaction leads to positive performance and further fuels job satisfaction, while conversely job dissatisfaction generates worse performance, and this further worsens worker satisfaction.
Originality/value
There is a lack of studies comparing and analyzing current evidence on the job (dis-)satisfaction of health care workers operating in different contexts based on the reward system. This is the first research to analyze a significant number of studies with reference to the relation between P4P and job (dis-)satisfaction, which are topics in need of further study and investigation in health care settings around the world.
Keywords
Citation
Briganti, P., de Gennaro, D., Buonocore, F. and Varriale, L. (2023), "Job (dis-)satisfaction in pay-for-performance health care contexts: a meta-synthesis of qualitative literature", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 36 No. 6/7, pp. 606-631. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-02-2023-0061
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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