[How do working conditions of hospital personnel affect patients?]

This study was performed to investigate to which extent job satisfaction and psychosocial working environment could explain variations in patient satisfaction with treatment and care. Questionnaires were mailed to nursing staff and to patients in 17 in-patient treatment units within two Norwegian hospitals. 2408 patients (61 per cent) replied on detailed questions concerning satisfaction with care, and 488 employees (78 per cent) replied on detailed questions concerning job satisfaction and psychosocial working conditions. Associations between 77 factors related to job satisfaction and 14 domains of patient satisfaction were assessed by simple correlations and multiple regression procedures using patient, employee and treatment ward as unit of analysis. Job satisfaction concerning bureucracy/organization, information from superiors, level of knowledge among leadership, economic constraints, collaboration, backup, stress, autonomy, skill, in-service training and fighting spirit were all significantly associated with various domains of patient satisfaction (all p values < 0.05). The study strengthens the hypothesis that job satisfaction play an important role for patient care and satisfaction. Leadership, organisation and continuity seem crucial.