PHYSIOTHERAPISTS CHALLENGES IN QATAR AND THEIR EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION

Abstract

While physiotherapists play a critical role in addressing the healthcare priorities and well-being of various populations in the rapidly changing healthcare, recent studies show that they are facing a number of challenges at their workplace, which could have an effect their performance in terms of the quality of healthcare services they provide. Studies further show that dissatisfaction at the workplace could lead to high employee turnover, which has negative health, economic and social outcomes for the employees, organization and the society at large. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the challenges that physiotherapists in Qatar face and how they affect their performance and retention. To achieve this, this study used a mixed method approach that involved a quantitative survey of 100 physiotherapists working in various parts of Qatar and qualitative interviews with 10 hospital staff and 25 former employees of Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar. The findings of the study show that low pay and unfavorable employment contracts are the leading challenge that most physiotherapists face in Qatar, with many stating their willingness to leave if they got better paying and contract terms. The increasing demand for physiotherapist services were identified as yet another major challenge that physiotherapists face in Qatar. Due to the high demand, physiotherapists are forced to put in more working hours, but their pay does not increase to compensate for the extra effort that they put in. As a result, majority of the physiotherapists end up being demotivated, which not only affects their performance but also increases employee retention. In light of these findings, this study recommends better pay and contract terms alongside policy changes, organizational change, professional education, support, mentorship, and training as ways of motivating employees.