Lakkana Hengboriboon

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Background: Academic staff in teaching hospitals face complex workplace challenges that may contribute to job strain, affecting health and productivity. Despite crucial roles in healthcare and education, research specifically examining job strain among academic staff in teaching hospitals remains remarkably limited. Objectives: To examine job strain prevalence and its associations with sickness absenteeism and presenteeism among academic staff at a teaching hospital in Thailand. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 189 academic staff who completed validated questionnaires assessing job demands, job control, social support, and financial well-being. Job strain was assessed using the Karasek job demand-control model and extended with the social support dimension model. Participants were classified as high-strain, active, passive, or low-strain based on median splits of job demand and job control, with social support assessed as an additional psychosocial dimension and included as a covariate in the multivariable models. Negative binomial regression was used to examine associations between job strain and productivity outcomes. Results: High job strain prevalence was 23.3%, with active strain most common (30.7%). Presenteeism was substantially more prevalent than sickness absenteeism (48.1% vs 24.3%). Active strain (adjusted relative risk [RR], 2.74; 95% CI, 1.45-5.17) and high strain (adjusted RR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.55-5.95) were significantly associated with presenteeism when compared with low strain. Financial well-being showed the strongest association for both outcomes, with low financial well-being associated with increased sickness absenteeism (adjusted RR, 4.97; 95% CI, 1.60-15.50) and presenteeism (adjusted RR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.40-6.12). Job strain was not significantly associated with sickness absenteeism Conclusions: Job strain was significantly associated with presenteeism but not with sickness absenteeism among academic staff in teaching hospitals. The high prevalence of presenteeism raises concerns about work quality and patient safety. Comprehensive interventions addressing job strain and financial well-being may improve staff well-being and productivity in academic healthcare settings.

Background/Objectives: The extensive exposure of physicians to the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to occupational stress and burnout in their daily lives. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of intern physicians who experienced burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify potential solutions to enhance clinical practices in future pandemics. Methods: This study employed a qualitative, phenomenological study utilizing in-depth interviews. The participants were 19 first-year intern physicians from public hospitals in Thailand, selected through a purposeful sampling approach who had experienced burnout. Semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face and via online platforms. A thematic narrative analysis approach was used. Results: Phenomenological explorations included two parts: the first explored physicians’ workplace conditions while providing patient care, and the second focused on their proposed solutions for policy changes in clinical practices and hospital management. Four main themes in the first part were derived: (1) emotional suffering and burnout; (2) engaging with a high-intensity workplace; (3) hostile work environments; and (4) deterioration of relationships with staff and colleagues. The second part identified three main themes: (1) changes in policy of clinical practices; (2) effective hospital management; and (3) building interpersonal skills. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated challenges faced by intern physicians, such as high-pressure working conditions, deteriorated relationships with colleagues, and ineffective management, all of which contribute to burnout. These challenges require targeted policy changes in clinical practices, effective hospital management, and building interpersonal skills. Recommendations include improved clinical practices, increased academic support, comprehensive orientation programs, effective communication, teamwork assistance, stress management, and transforming organizational culture to value physicians during internships.

With the adoption of new technologies accelerating, smart home security has emerged as a critical topic in the household market. This study aims to ascertain consumers’ intentions regarding smart home security technology. Smart home security adoption intention was studied using the Technology Readiness and Technology Acceptance Model. The research survey gathered data from 303 respondents for analysis. The model’s statistical test for hypotheses testing was analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and a Structural Equation Model. All hypotheses were supported. Optimism has a strong effect on perceived security while innovativeness has a positive effect on perceived ease of use. Discomfort has a positive effect on perceived usefulness but has a negative effect on perceived ease of use. Insecurity has a negative effect on perceived usefulness. Also, perceived ease of use significantly affects perceived usefulness and attitudes towards using smart home security. Perceived security has a positive effect on attitudes towards using smart home security. Finally, the consumer’s perceived usefulness and attitudes towards using smart home security have a sizable influence on the consumer’s intention to use smart home security technology. The research illustrates several implications for understanding consumer behavioral intentions regarding the use of smart home security technology.

This research aimed to study the factors that affect passion and grit and their relation to Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) in the educational service sector. The data were collected from 381 employees from four main universities in Thailand. Structural equation modelling was used to conduct the data analysis. The results indicated that passion consists of the internal factors of self-esteem, welfare, and respect while grit consists of advancement, stability, and job description. Both passion and grit were found to directly affect OCB in the educational service sector. Additionally, coworkers and education have no relationship with OCBESS. This study implies that organisations can focus on the intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors that promote passion and grit, which can enhance the level of OCBESS, to benefit workers and organisations.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are commonly used to manage stress and well-being in organizations in Thailand; however, their utilization rates remain low among employees. This study investigates the factors that influence employees’ utilization of an EAP, focusing on the moderating roles of perceived privacy protection and perceived trust, using the Health Belief Model (HBM). Data were collected by surveying 434 employees from organizations providing EAPs in Thailand. Structural Equation Modelling was employed to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. The findings indicated that employees’ intention to use EAPs was significantly influenced by perceived benefits, cues to action, and privacy protection, whereas self-efficacy had a negative effect. Moreover, perceived privacy protection can strengthen the relationship between self-efficacy and EAP utilization, while it weakens the relationship between cues to action and perceived barriers. Perceived trust further enhances the impact of perceived severity and self-efficacy on EAP utilization. The practical implications for organizations are also discussed.