How does job mobility relate to work commitment among rural healthcare workers? a cross-sectional study in western China

BACKGROUND: Rural healthcare workers (RHWs) are the core of the rural health system. The antecedents of turnover of RHWs have been well studied, but little is known about the consequences of job mobilities among RWHs. This study aimed to identify the association between job mobility and the work commitment of RHWs in China. METHODS: Based on a three-stage random sampling method, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 11 western provinces in China. A total of 3783 RHWs, consisting of 2245 doctors and 1538 nurses, were included in our study. Confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson’s chi-squared test, one-way ANOVA, linear regression analysis, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed for data analyses. RESULTS: 46.3% of RHWs reported the experience of job mobility in the past. Work commitment of RHWs was not very high; specifically, the mean scores of pride in, concern for, and dedication to work were 3.54, 3.81, and 3.61 (out of a maximum of 5), respectively, and 29.9% presented turnover intent. RHWs’ overall experience of job mobility in the past was significantly associated with an increased odds of having the turnover intent. With respect to the last job mobilities of RHWs, the last job changes that occurred in the last 3 years, especially these lateral (i.e., job changes between two healthcare institutions at the same hierarchical level) and upward (i.e., job changes from a healthcare institution at a lower hierarchical level to current institution) mobilities, were significantly associated with a high level of work commitment (i.e., pride in, concern for, and dedication to work) among RHWs. However, the lateral mobilities in the last four to 5 years and the downward mobilities (i.e., job changes from a healthcare institution at a higher hierarchical level to current institution) 6 years ago or more significantly increased the odds of having turnover intent among RHWs, and RHWs whose last job changes were other mobilities (i.e., job changes from a non-healthcare institution to a healthcare institution) in the last four to 5 years reported had a significantly low level of pride in and concern for work and an increased odds of having the turnover intent. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that the overall experience of job mobility in the past is a threat to RHWs’ work commitment to their current healthcare institutions. The honeymoon-hangover pattern exists in the association between a single job change and RHWs’ work commitment. Managers of rural healthcare institutions should pay more attention to these RHWs with the experience of job mobility to enhance their work commitment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-07166-w.