Workplace Wellbeing During the Third Wave of COVID-19: Perceptions of South African Diagnostic Radiographers at Three Radiology Departments in the Eastern Cape Province

Abstract

Introduction. Constant development and changes in the working environment, staff shortages, unexpected crises and role conflicts can negatively impact the wellbeing of radiographers as they try to navigate and cope with these to perform optimally. This can have a significant negative impact on their mental health and work performance, which in turn results in suboptimal service delivery and patient care.

Methods. A quantitative approach using a descriptive, cross-sectional research design was employed. Sixty diagnostic radiographers (n=60) were recruited, using a census sampling strategy, at three research sites. A two-part hardcopy questionnaire was used to collect participants’ demographic information and their perceptions related to their workplace wellbeing.

Results. Most of the participants were found to have low to moderate levels of job satisfaction (80%), organisational support (93.4%), employer care (83.4%) and work-life balance (86.7%). Results demonstrate that job satisfaction is positively correlated with organisational support (r=0.698, p=0.000) and that organisational support is positively correlated with employer care (r=0.842, p=0.000). A negative correlation was found to exist between work-life balance and job satisfaction (r=−0.322, p=0.000), organisational support (r=−0.371, p=0.000)  and employer care (r=−0.466, p=0.000), respectively. Statistically significant differences were found for the factors: job satisfaction, organisational support and work-life balance relative to participants’ age group. There were no statistically significant differences between the four factors comprising workplace wellbeing relative to the participants’ marital status and number of dependants. Participants’ workplace wellbeing was significantly lower during the pandemic compared to that  prior to the pandemic.

Conclusion. The majority (85.9%) of participants’ overall workplace wellbeing was found to be moderate and significantly decreased during the pandemic. The development of strategies should be considered to enhance workplace wellbeing among radiographers to ensure optimal wellness, which can lead to enhanced service delivery quality and radiographer performance, and patient care and safety.