Healthcare Professionals' Work Motivation in Crisis Settings: A Mixed‐Methods Study From India

ABSTRACT Studies on Indian healthcare professionals during the COVID‐19 pandemic have documented that they experienced an increase in workloads and stress, physical and mental burdens, and anxiety about contracting COVID‐19. However, the question of what motivated them to keep working despite those difficult conditions remains unanswered. Against this background, we conducted the current investigation to explore the work motivation of healthcare professionals in India during the pandemic. We developed a theoretical framework that explains work motivation through human resource management factors and tested it using a mixed‐methods approach. Our data were collected through an online quantitative survey of 60 healthcare professionals, followed by qualitative interviews with 25 doctors who worked in India during the pandemic. The survey and interviews triangulated our findings that organisational commitment and workplace relationships were two important factors positively associated with work motivation. Evidence for professional responsibility as a third factor influencing work motivation was weaker, although it was frequently cited during the interviews. The results of this study shed light on work motivation among healthcare professionals in times of crisis and contribute to theory building in the context of human resource management in the health sector. More importantly, by identifying key non‐financial motivators, this study provides evidence‐based insights for policymakers and healthcare administrators aiming to strengthen health system resilience. Enhancing these motivational factors is crucial for developing effective human resource strategies, improving retention, and ultimately building a more robust and sustainable healthcare system in India, both during crises and in routine operations.