Emotional Exhaustion and Turnover Intention Among Frontline Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Frontline healthcare workers are commonly faced with high workload, stress, and a constant need to attend to patients, which can lead to Emotional Exhaustion (EE) that can, in turn, lead to increased Turnover Intention (TI). This study investigates the connection between EE and TI amongst frontline healthcare workers and its significance for organizational behavior and human resource management. In the study, a quantitative research method was used, with a structured questionnaire applied to 300 healthcare practitioners. Measurement of EE and TI was done using a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis was conducted using a reliability test, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis in order to examine the relationship between study variables. The reliability test showed strong internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.89 and 0.86 for EE and TI, respectively. Pearson correlation test identified a statistically significant positive relationship between EE and TI (r = 0.642, p< 0.01). Regression analysis further confirmed the significant predictability of EE towards intention to leave (β = 0.642, p < 0.001), explaining 41.2 percent of the variability in TI (R² = 0.412).   Wellness programs for employees, supportive leadership style, proper workload management, psychological support, and career development activities need to be implemented in healthcare organizations to overcome the problem of EE and retain their employees. The research adds value to the field of organizational behavior and HRM by proving the significance of psychological well-being in formulating retention policies.