The influence of organizational support and working conditions on the job satisfaction of healthcare workers in home care: Comparison of urban and rural environments

BackgroundThis paper explores the connection between organizational support and job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Croatian home care institutions. The aim is to understand how supportive structures influence satisfaction in physically demanding work environments. Home care involves high physical demands and a need for constant support from superiors.ObjectivesThe research aimed to identify which elements of organizational support are linked to greater job satisfaction. It also assessed whether geographical location (urban vs. rural) influences the availability of such support.MethodsA quantitative survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire among 517 health workers in home care in Croatia. Data analysis included Spearman correlations and the chi-square test to examine associations between variables.ResultsThe results show a significant connection between organizational support, especially in terms of communication with superiors and professional development, and job satisfaction. Urban environments tend to provide greater organizational support, while health workers in rural areas report a lack of support and greater physical workload.ConclusionThis research emphasizes the importance of organizational support for job satisfaction in home care and indicates the need to adjust working conditions according to geographic specificities. The work's contribution to nursing lies in providing empirical evidence that can serve as a basis for improving policies and practices in the home health care sector.