A phenomenological study of Filipino Medical Technologists' forces for perceived job satisfaction amidst COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are daily subjected to various conditions that influence their job satisfaction and affect their performance. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of burden amongst HCWs, and as a result, many local HCWs in the Philippines experienced the brain drain phenomenon. In this study, a phenomenological approach to immerse in the lived experiences of Filipino medical technologists in the Philippines was utilized to determine their perceived job satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Purposive sampling was utilized in this study. Thirteen registered Filipino medical technologists in any organizational position with at least three years of experience working in Department of Health, Philippines (DOH)-accredited private hospitals within the Metro Manila, Philippines were individually interviewed to express their definition of job satisfaction and factors affecting the degree of this phenomenon amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Following their voluntary enrollment in the study, demographics and employment history were obtained using a survey questionnaire. The interview consists of open-ended questions and sub-questions regarding their perceived job satisfaction. Colaizzi's method was applied to obtain the essence of the phenomenon under investigation. Results: The richness of the information from the in-depth interview has made the researcher come up with three major themes entitled: the Force of Purpose, the Force of Pursuit, and the Force of People. Similar experiences were clustered into various subthemes: passion, service, practice, privilege, professional growth, opportunity, recognition, relationships, and teamwork. Finally, the researchers assimilated the themes and have come up with the simulacrum 'The Fire Triangle of Job Satisfaction' which represents forces for perceived job satisfaction amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Conclusions: The emerged job satisfaction of Filipino medical technologists is defined as the Force of Purpose to exemplify their purpose, the Force of Pursuit for their personal and professional pursuits, and the Force of People to surround themselves with appreciative and supportive people. The findings of this study may be used to create programs to increase the job satisfaction and retention of healthcare professionals.