Research Article: Psychosocial work experience and salutogenic health among nurses and physicians in a reorganized tertiary care hospital: differences and associations
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to analyse psychosocial work experience and salutogenic health among nurses and physicians in a reorganized tertiary care hospital in Lithuania.
In 2025, an anonymous hard-copy survey was conducted in a large tertiary care hospital in Lithuania. Ethical approval was obtained from the local bioethics committee. In total 900 questionnaires were distributed to physicians and nurses with 497 returned (55.2% overall response), including different response rates by group (56.0% physicians vs. 54.6% nurses). Each participant completed a three-part questionnaire comprising the Work Experience Measurement Scale (WEMS) rated on a six-point Likert scale, the Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS) and demographic questions (sex, age group <40/40–54/?55, position, years employed in the hospital <4/4–10/>10, and other employment). Indices were standardized to 0–100, internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha, group differences were tested using independent-samples t-tests, multiple linear regression was used to model SHIS as the dependent variable from the six WEMS sub-indices (adjusted for age), with all analyses performed in SPSS 19.0 at p =?0.05.
The study results showed satisfactory to excellent reliability for the measures, with SHIS (12 semantic differential items on recent affective experiences such as alert–tired and happy–depressed) reaching high internal consistency (Cronbach’s ? =?0.95). Across the work-experience scale, Likert-type sub-dimensions also showed acceptable to excellent reliability, including supportive working conditions ( ? =?0.91), internal work experience ( ? =?0.75), autonomy ( ? =?0.87), leadership ( ? =?0.94), and the process of change ( ? =?0.95). The respondent profile differed significantly by work position, including a higher proportion of women among nurses than physicians and differences in age distribution, with most participants aged 40–54?years. Nurses reported significantly higher scores than physicians for working conditions (77.6?±?17.7 vs. 69.7?±?20.0), internal work experience (81.1?±?14.4 vs. 77.8?±?15.2), time experience (76.1?±?20.9 vs. 59.6?±?23.6), and SHIS scores (74.1?±?19.2 vs. 62.7?±?17.2), while autonomy and leadership did not differ significantly. Regression analyses showed that, among physicians, supportive working conditions ( ? =?0.32, p <?0.001), time experience ( ? =?0.26, p <?0.001), and process of change ( ? =?0.16, p =?0.039) were significantly and positively associated with SHIS. Among nurses, internal work experience ( ? =?0.13, p =?0.020), time experience ( ? =?0.24, p <?0.001), and process of change ( ? =?0.43, p <?0.001) were significantly and positively associated with SHIS, whereas supportive working conditions were not significantly associated ( ? =?0.07, p =?0.252). Model explanatory power was R2?=?0.451 for physicians, 0.512 for nurses, and 0.508 for the total sample.
The study instruments showed satisfactory to excellent internal consistency, supporting the credibility of the subsequent comparisons and regression analyses. Nurses reported more favorable psychosocial work experiences and higher salutogenic health than physicians. Salutogenic health was positively associated with supportive working conditions, time experience, and the process of change among physicians, and with internal work experience, time experience, and the process of change among nurses.
Introduction:
The aim of this study was to analyse psychosocial work experience and salutogenic health among nurses and physicians in a reorganized tertiary care hospital in Lithuania.
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