Investigating How Organizational Commitment Influences Adherence to Healthcare Laws and Regulations in the Ministry of Health, Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia

Background: Healthcare professionals’ organizational commitment plays a significant role in compliance with healthcare laws and regulations. Understanding this relationship is critical for improving organizational performance in the Ministry of Health (MOH), Makkah region, Saudi Arabia. Objective: This study aims to examine how the three dimensions of organizational commitment—affective, continuance, and normative—affect healthcare professionals' adherence to laws and regulations. Method: A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was utilized. Data were collected via a structured survey from 266 healthcare professionals across various roles, including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and administrative staff. The Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ) was used to assess the three dimensions of organizational commitment, while adherence to healthcare laws and regulations was measured through self-reported compliance behaviors. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression models were employed to analyze the data. Results: The study found that 82% of participants exhibited moderate to high levels of organizational commitment, with 76% showing strong adherence to healthcare regulations. Affective commitment (r = 0.68, p < 0.01) demonstrated the strongest positive correlation with adherence. Furthermore, 64% of participants with high affective commitment reported better regulatory compliance, while 52% of those with high normative commitment followed laws more consistently. Continuance commitment showed a weaker correlation (r = 0.34, p < 0.05) with compliance. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of fostering affective commitment among healthcare professionals to improve adherence to regulations. Interventions targeting organizational commitment dimensions can enhance regulatory compliance.