Job Satisfaction of Core Staff at the Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship of job characteristics and organizational climate to job satisfaction of the core staff at the Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health. It was conducted as a survey research using a questionnaire to collect data from the core staff at the central and regional offices of the Department, totaling 218 persons. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and simple regression analysis. The results revealed that overall, more than half of the core staff at the Department of Health Service Support were satisfied with their job (59.60%). The highest satisfaction factor was colleagues accounted for 72.00%. Job characteristics and organizational climate were moderately satisfactory. Job characteristics in the dimension of feedback from job itself had the highest average (Mean=4.05). Organizational climate perception in job responsibility had the highest average (Mean=2.78). Job characteristics and organizational climate had a moderate positive association with job satisfaction of the core function staff at the Department of Health Service Support (r=0.404 and 0.561, respectively). Job characteristics and organizational climate accounted for 37% (adjusted R2=0.370) of the variation in job satisfaction of the core function staff at the Department. The authors recommended that administrators should set up policies to design job characteristics to fit the profession, create a good working atmosphere, set up the organizational structure with clearly defined job responsibilities; and enhance job security and career advancement of the staff.