Motivation and management of work-related stress in healthcare professionals: the case of Greece

Abstract

This paper will provide a theoretical background of motivation, work-related stress, job satisfaction and occupational burnout syndrome among healthcare professionals, through an analysis of the Greek and international literature. The theoretical background includes the study of the relationship between management – employees – business results, and how these factors change in terms of work-related stress. There will be presented various measurement scales and models for the prevention of work-related stress and job satisfaction, which have been adequately applied and evaluated for their accuracy. Through the research by questionnaires, motivation will be examined in terms of job satisfaction and job stress. At the same time, stress levels and the main motivating factors will be examined in relation to the sample used in the research. Four online databases were used for the needs of this paper: Emerald, PubMed, ResearchGate and Google Scholar. The search was based on keywords about motivation, occupational stress, burnout syndrome and job satisfaction. The search was done in Greek, English, French and German, during March and April, 2021. The present paper consists of scientific researches, dissertations and other papers from trusted sources. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between work motivation and job satisfaction among healthcare professionals as well as to highlight motivational factors and other factors of human resources management.The provision of health services is a complex and often very demanding task. Healthcare professionals face many responsibilities every day concerning patients, colleagues and the organization they work for. Medical professions require knowledge of a wide range of skills, interpersonal and specialized techniques. Sometimes they face contradictions because of the demands between administration and patients. According to the fourth European survey on working conditions (2005), work stress is the most common occupational health problem, affecting around 22% of European workers. Workers who experience work-related stress tend to be more time away from work. Also, the rise of psychological conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders and burnout syndrome, are due to changes in the psychological context of the working environment. It is concluded that occupational burnout syndrome is a link between psychologically unfavorable work environments and mental illnesses.