Journal of Modern Medical

Introduction
The covid-19 pandemic has brought many challenges for health system workers. Emerging diseases such as COVID-19 have always been associated with mental pressure due to the lack of comprehensive information about them. In this situation, the main concerns of health managers are the maintenance, strengthening and improvement of the employees’ moods and creating motivation and satisfaction among them. These are important factors in providing good quality services in this pandemic. Based on previous studies, job satisfaction is related to the high level of employee participation in achieving the organization’s goals, customer satisfaction, employee commitment to the organization, productivity, and profitability of the organization. Job satisfaction increases self-confidence and leads to performing works better and with interest; on the other hand, it improves communication, reduces the psychological pressure of employees, and provides grounds for ensuring their physical, mental, and social health. Considering the provision of support packages by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) for its employees during the covid-19 pandemic, this study aims to investigate the satisfaction of employees working at the headquarters of SUMS with support packages (individual/family, and organizational services) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
This descriptive correlational study with a cross-sectional design conducted in 2021. The study population consists of all employees (n=1633) working in the central headquarters of SUMS in seven departments (Treatment, Health, Management & Resources Development, Student and Cultural, Food and Medicine, Research and Technology, and Education). With an error level of 5%, the sample size was estimated 311. Then, by dividing 311 by 1633 and multiplying the obtained number by the number of personnel of each department, the necessary sample size for each department was obtained. From each department, the employees were randomly selected based on their personnel code and the table of random numbers. The data collection tool was a two-part questionnaire. The first part surveys the demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, place of service, educational level, type of employment, work experience) and the second part was a researcher-made employee satisfaction scale with 40 items and two domains of individual and family support services (20 items) and organization support services (20 items). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation test, t-test, and ANOVA) in SPSS v. 23 software at a significance level of 0.05.
Results
The mean total satisfaction level of employees with support packages was 118.57±19.83 (out of 200). Their mean satisfaction with the support packages at individual/family level was 54.29±10.35 (out of 100). In this package, the highest score was related to individual support services (disinfectant solution, mask and gloves) with a mean of 3.58 ± 1.46 (out of 5). Their mean satisfaction with the support packages at organizational level was 64.28±12.86 (out of 100). In this package, the highest score was related to “remote work services” with a mean of 3.77±1.62 (out of 5). There was a statistically significant relationship between employees’ satisfaction and their work experience (r=0.141, P=0.04), gender (t=1.724, P=0.03), and workplace (F=2.349, P=0.01) such that the level of satisfaction was higher among employees with more work experience, female employees, and those working in the deputy of Management & Resource Development.
Dissection
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers are at higher risk of infection. They are engaged in providing services to patients and clients for at least 8 hours of the day and night. The satisfaction level of the employees working at the headquarter of SUMS with the support packages for COVID-19 is at moderate level. There is a need to maintain or upgrade the support service packages. Increasing salaries and timely payment based on performance and benefits of hard work during the pandemic, taking examples from successful health and treatment systems in other countries, paying attention to the environmental and welfare factors are recommended to increase the level of satisfaction in the employees of SUMS.

Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
This study has ethical approval number IR.SUMS.REC.1399.596 of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS).

Funding
This article is supported by the Research Vice-Chancellor of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS)with No. 20596.

Authors' contributions
Conceptualization: Ali Reza Yusefi; Methodology: Ali Reza Yusefi, Shakiba Rohani Sarvestani, Narjes Sadat Nasbi; Investigation: Peivand Bastani, Mehrdad Sharifi; Writing-Original Draft: Ali Reza Yusefi, Salman Daneshi; Writing-Review & Editing: Peivand Bastani, Rasul Raesi; Funding Acquisition: Mehrdad Sharifi; Resources: Ali Reza Yusefi; Supervision: Ali Reza Yusefi, Salman Daneshi.

Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that there isn't conflict of interest in the present study.

Acknowledgements
The researchers would like gracefully to thank the Research Vice-Chancellor of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS).
 

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