A Hospitality Improvement Intervention in Residential Care Does Not Warrant Staff Job Satisfaction or Turnover Intention: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study Investigating the Hostmanship Program

Background Accountability pressure is rising in healthcare, and this demonstrates that the quality of care provided within a residential care setting is of utmost importance. Hostmanship is a quality improvement program focusing on person-centered care in residential care settings. Objectives This study aimed to explore the influencing factors for job satisfaction and intention to leave among healthcare workers and the difference in job satisfaction and intention to leave the employer between residential care centers with and without Hostmanship. Methods A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted in sixteen Flemish residential care settings in Belgium. A total of 293 participants completed the questionnaire, divided into two groups: the group with Hostmanship (n = 139), at least one year into a change process implementing Hostmanship, and the group without the Hostmanship program (n = 154). Hierarchical logistic regression analysis estimated effects between demographic characteristics (block one), facility management, staffing and Hostmanship (block two), work characteristics (block three), and work engagement or burnout dimensions (block four) as explanatory variables of job satisfaction and turnover intention as outcome variables. Results This study confirmed the positive impact of social capital and decision latitude on staff member job satisfaction, as shown in previous findings. Age and workload were associated with turnover intentions. A hierarchical logistic regression model explained 68.7 % of the variance in workers' job satisfaction, and a hierarchical logistic regression explained 49.2% of the variance in their intent to leave. Also, no effects were found for Hostmanship on staff job satisfaction and intention to leave. Conclusions This study shows how a quality improvement project such as Hostmanship could produce counterintuitive results for organizations in elderly residential centers. However, results inconsistent with literature were found. It is unclear whether Hostmanship warrants job satisfaction or retaining personnel. Future research must take into consideration success factors when implementing new quality initiatives. A general framework for successful implementation in the healthcare sector should be provided.