Quality of work life among nurses working at a provincial general hospital in Vietnam: a cross-sectional study

Aim: To measure the overall level of quality of work life (QWL), and its association with personal and work-related factors among nurses working at a provincial general hospital in Vietnam.Design: A cross-sectional study.Methods: One hundred and sixty nurses were selected by stratified random sampling. Questionnaires were used to survey personal factors, job position, salary, and working years, including work life dimensions. The reliability of the instrument used for the survey was tested using Cronbach alpha, which yielded an index of 0.925. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test (p < 0.05), and Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficient.Results: The overall score of QWL among nurses was moderate, scaled at 3.04 (± 0.55). A weak positive correlation between QWL and age (r = 0.196), working years (r = 0.204), and care-giving responsibilities at home (r = 0.179) was revealed. Educational level was most strongly associated with QWL (r = 0.515), and a multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that the standardized coefficient was highest for education (0.365).Conclusion: The majority of the nurses had a moderate level of overall QWL, with education the key associated factor. Our findings may help to improve the nursing profession, and, hence, the quality of healthcare in Vietnam.