Factors Influencing the Transfer Decisions of Public Health Personnel at Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals Under the Transfer to Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administrative Organization.

Abstract

          This study consists of three main objectives: 1) to examine the levels of organizational factors, environmental factors, organizational commitment, and work motivation among public health personnel at Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals regarding the transfer of tasks to the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administrative Organization; 2) to analyze the factors influencing the transfer decisions of public health personnel at Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals regarding the transfer of tasks to the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administrative Organization; and 3) to investigate guidelines for the transfer decision-making process of public health personnel at Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals regarding the transfer of tasks to the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administrative Organization. The sample consisted of 212 personnel working in subdistrict health promoting hospitals under the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Public Health Office who had not yet transferred, with the sample size determined using the Krejcie and Morgan formula. The data collection instruments included a questionnaire with a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 1.00 and a reliability coefficient of 0.910, as well as structured interviews. Statistical methods used for data analysis included percentages, means, standard deviations (S.D.), correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, with a purposively selected target group of 9 participants, including subdistrict health promoting hospital directors, public health officers, registered nurses, dental public health officers, pharmacy technicians, traditional Thai medicine practitioners, and other staff members.
     The study revealed the following findings: (1) Among the 212 respondents, classified by position, the majority held the position of public health officer, accounting for 23.60 percent. In terms of transfer decisions, 49.92 percent chose not to transfer. (2) Factors influencing the decision of public health personnel to transfer duties to the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administrative Organization were, overall, at a high level ( = 4.31). (3) The work motivation factor significantly influenced the transfer decisions of public health personnel at the 0.05 level of statistical significance (β = .141). In contrast, organizational commitment  (β = .058), environmental factors (β = .018), and organizational factors (β = .021) did not significantly influence the transfer decisions of public health personnel. (4) The decision-making process of subdistrict health promotion hospital personnel regarding transfers to the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administrative Organization indicated that the transfer would provide greater flexibility in health management at the subdistrict level, better address the needs of the local population, and reduce duplication of management and budget allocation among agencies. However, the Provincial Administrative Organization currently lacked sufficient financial and academic support from the Decentralization Committee. The newly established Public Health Division within the Provincial Administrative Organization remained under development, resulting in inadequate manpower and limited experience and expertise to fully support its operations. Factors influencing the decision-making process included the clarity of transfer policies and regulations, as well as conditions related to work, benefits, salary, overtime compensation, career advancement, job security, and clarity of roles and responsibilities for subdistrict public health personnel. Greater readiness and clarity regarding these issues would increase the willingness of public health personnel to transfer.