Takeo Miki

Association between Intention to Stay on the Job and Job Satisfaction among Japanese Nurses in Small and Medium-sized Private Hospitals

Association between Intention to Stay on the Job and Job Satisfaction among Japanese Nurses in Small and Medium‐sized Private Hospitals: Yasushi Kudo, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine—In order to examine the relationship between the intention to stay on the job and job satisfaction among Japanese nurses, and to obtain clues for preventing turnover, we conducted a questionnaire survey. The subjects involved in the survey included 625 female nurses (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and assistant nurses) working in 4 small and medium‐sized private hospitals, excluding directors of nursing. Of the 625 questionnaires distributed, 556 (89.0%) were returned. After excluding the questionnaires with missing values, 480 questionnaires were analyzed (effective response rate, 76.8%). The average age of the respondents was 32.8 yr (range: 20–65). The content of the questionnaire was nurse attributes, job satisfaction (30 items) and intention to stay on the job. For job satisfaction, factor analysis (principal factor method and promax rotation) was performed, and factors with an eigenvalue of ≥1 were extracted. Six factors were extracted by factor analysis. These factors were interpreted as “Work as specialists” (1st factor), “Relationship with superiors” (2nd factor), “Comfortable life” (3rd factor), “Relationship among nurses” (4th factor), “Communication with physicians” (5th factor) and “Working conditions” (6th factor). The factor scores were calculated and used as a scale for the evaluation of job satisfaction. To investigate the factors associated with intention to stay on the job among nurses, the standard partial regression coefficient was computed by multiple linear regression analysis, with intention to stay on the job as the dependent variable, and nurse attributes and job satisfaction (factor scores) as independent variables. Various factors including the organizational culture of each hospital may affect the relationship between job satisfaction and the intention to stay on the job. In order to adjust for these factors, differences among hospitals were included in the statistical model as independent variables. The result of the multiple regression analysis suggests that the intention to stay on the job was higher among nurses who were older and more satisfied with work as specialists (1st factor) and working conditions (6th factor).

Factors associated with turnover interntion among nurses in small and medium-sized medical institutions

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate factors associated with turnover intention among nurses in small and medium-sized medical institutions.MethodsA self-administered questionaire survey was performed in 293 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and assistant nurses working full-time in various medical institutions. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted, with turnover intention as the dependent variable, and nurses’ basic attributes and job satisfaction as independent variables.ResultsAs for nurses’ basic attributes, turnover intention was significantly associated with registered nurses, younger nurses and those with low satisfaction with sleep. As for nurses’ job satisfaction, the number of nurses with turnover intention was significantly higher for those with low satisfaction with salary, low satisfaction with welfare, poor implementation of fair salary raise and poor cooperation among nurses.ConclusionTurnover intention may be reduced by the enhancement of trust in the organization, giving appropriate advice to young nurses and registered nurses, and developing measures for addressing sleep disorders.

Behavior of new type of rock wool (HT wool) in lungs after exposure by nasal inhalation in rats

ObjectivesPrevious types of rock wool has been recently replaced with high-temperature wool (HT wool). HT wool is characterized by a chemical composition with a higher concentration of Al2O3 and a lower concentration of SiO2, lower biopersistence, and a higher melting point than previous types of rock wool. To evaluate the safety of HT wool, an asbestos substitute, we examined the biopersistence of HT wool in the lungs, based on changes in fiber count according to the length and fiber size (length and width), by performing a nose-only inhalation exposure study in rats.MethodsMale Fischer 344 rats were exposed to fibers at the target exposure concentration of 30 mg/m3 continuously for 3 hours daily for 5 consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed shortly after exposure, and 1, 2, and 4 weeks after exposure, and their lung tissues were incinerated at a low temperature. Then, fiber counts and sizes in the lungs were analyzed using a phase contrast microscope.ResultsThe fiber count in the lungs 4 weeks after exposure significantly decreased from the baseline value (shortly after exposure). The half-life of fibers calculated from the approximation curve was 34 days for all fibers and 11 days for fibers longer than 20 μm.ConclusionsBoth the length and width significantly decreased 4 weeks after exposure, probably because fibers were ingested by alveolar macrophages, discharged to outside of the body by mucociliary movement, or lysed by body fluid. In future studies, it is necessary to examine the long-term persistence of fibers in the lungs.