[Factors of professional caregivers' intention to work: A qualitative study]

Abstract

Objectives The shortage of professional caregivers is a critical issue in care facilities, which are a key social resource in the community-based integrated care system for Japan's super-aging society. However, professional caregivers report a high intention to continue working. This study aims to reveal the factors surrounding working intentions among professional caregivers, from a positive perspective, using a qualitative design.Methods A qualitative design, based on a content analysis approach, was used in this study. From August to November 2018, semi-structured joint interviews, using the interview guide, were conducted with 14 experienced professional caregivers working in 11 care facilities for the elderly in Japan. The participants were paired, or grouped, into three groups and were interviewed. The interviews, recorded with participant approval and transcribed in their entirety, were analyzed. The researchers identified and categorized common themes emerging from the participants' responses to each question as codes. We raised the abstraction level of the codes into subcategories, and subcategories to categories. Approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of Setsunan University (No. 2018-018).Results The average age of the participants was 35.0±6.45 years. Three categories, consisting of nine sub-categories across 27 codes, emerged as the main themes. The first was 'attachment to care work for older adults,' which consisted of three sub-categories, which included "love of and enjoyment in dealing with older adults." The second was 'cohesion in the workplace and linkage inside and outside the workplace,' which consisted of sub-categories, such as "cohesion of rational workplace members." The final category was 'supportive workplace management and human resource development from an on-site perspective,' which consisted of sub-categories, including "psychological rewards and support from superiors." These findings revealed that attachment to care work for older adults and the work environment influencing attachment are important factors concerning their work intentions.Conclusion We found that 'attachment to care work for older adults,' 'cohesion in the workplace and linkage inside and outside the workplace,' and 'supportive workplace management and human resource development from an on-site perspective' were factors that affect the work intentions of professional caregivers. The findings suggest that encouraging professional caregivers to continue working, using measures that foster attachment to work, and which develop their work environment, such as cohesion and linkage based on human relationships, are required.