TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with link workers considering leaving their role: a cross-sectional survey
AU - Tierney, Stephanie
AU - Moore, Lucy
AU - Westlake, Debra
AU - Mahtani, Kamal R.
AU - Nunan, David
AU - Husk, Kerryn
AU - Dawson, Shoba
AU - Smith, Jane
AU - Fuller, Emma
AU - Sabir, Lilly
AU - Roberts, Pauline
AU - Ukoumunne, Obioha C.
PY - 2025/1/29
Y1 - 2025/1/29
N2 - Background Social prescribing (SP) link workers (LWs) listen to patients’ concerns and difficulties, and connect them to relevant community assets (groups/organisations/charities) that can help with their non-medical issues (eg, loneliness, debt, housing). LW retention is key to sustaining SP within primary care.Aim To examine occupational self-efficacy, job discrepancy and other factors as potential predictors of LWs’ intentions to leave or remain in their post.Design & setting Cross-sectional survey involving LWs from the United Kingdom.Method An online questionnaire was distributed via SP-related organisations. Questions were on: a) intention to leave the role, b) demographics, and c) role experience, including occupational self-efficacy and discrepancy between expectations and reality of the job. Questions were mainly closed, although some allowed LWs to provide a written response. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify predictors, and content analysis used to categorise open ended responses.Results 342 questionnaire responses were included in the analysis. Higher job discrepancy was associated with past (odds ratio [OR] per 30 unit increase=6.86; 95% CI: 3.91 to 12.0; P=0.003) and future (OR=4.86; 95% CI: 2.70 to 8.72; P<0.001) intentions to leave, whilst lower occupational self-efficacy was associated only with past intentions to leave (OR per 10 unit decrease=1.91; 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.93; P=0.003).Conclusion Findings highlight factors influencing LW retention, offering a foundation for targeted interventions, which could include clearer communication about the role during recruitment, and adjusting job descriptions and support when required.
AB - Background Social prescribing (SP) link workers (LWs) listen to patients’ concerns and difficulties, and connect them to relevant community assets (groups/organisations/charities) that can help with their non-medical issues (eg, loneliness, debt, housing). LW retention is key to sustaining SP within primary care.Aim To examine occupational self-efficacy, job discrepancy and other factors as potential predictors of LWs’ intentions to leave or remain in their post.Design & setting Cross-sectional survey involving LWs from the United Kingdom.Method An online questionnaire was distributed via SP-related organisations. Questions were on: a) intention to leave the role, b) demographics, and c) role experience, including occupational self-efficacy and discrepancy between expectations and reality of the job. Questions were mainly closed, although some allowed LWs to provide a written response. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify predictors, and content analysis used to categorise open ended responses.Results 342 questionnaire responses were included in the analysis. Higher job discrepancy was associated with past (odds ratio [OR] per 30 unit increase=6.86; 95% CI: 3.91 to 12.0; P=0.003) and future (OR=4.86; 95% CI: 2.70 to 8.72; P<0.001) intentions to leave, whilst lower occupational self-efficacy was associated only with past intentions to leave (OR per 10 unit decrease=1.91; 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.93; P=0.003).Conclusion Findings highlight factors influencing LW retention, offering a foundation for targeted interventions, which could include clearer communication about the role during recruitment, and adjusting job descriptions and support when required.
UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/context/pms-research/article/2797/viewcontent/BJGPO.2024.0128.full.pdf
U2 - 10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0128
DO - 10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0128
M3 - Article
SN - 1849-5435
SP - BJGPO.2024.0128
JO - BJGP Open
JF - BJGP Open
ER -