Healthcare providers' intention to leave their jobs during COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: During the coronavirus pandemic (COVID‐19), healthcare providers confronted risks of disease transmission to themselves and their family members, resulting in physical and psychological burdens. This might affect their decisions to leave their jobs temporarily or permanently, fearing infection and protecting their families. This study examined the factors related to the intention to leave a job among healthcare providers during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Jordan. METHODS: A cross‐sectional correlational design was used to collect data using a convenience sample of 557 healthcare providers working in different sectors across Jordan. Data were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire about the intention to leave jobs during the pandemic. RESULTS: The sample included 368 females (63.8%) and 209 males (36.6%) participants. The mean age of participants was 30.8 years (SD = 6.65). Differences found in intention to leave job during COVID‐19 in relation to age (t = 2.60, p < 0.05), gender (X (2) = 4.25, p < 0.001), and marital status (X (2) = 18.2, p < 0.001). Participants with a high risk of exposure to COVID‐19 and who experienced higher workloads had higher scores of intention to leave their job during COVID‐19, while being married had lower scores. CONCLUSIONS: Policy‐makers need to pay attention to young and single healthcare providers during the COVID‐19 pandemic to prevent them leave their job. Crucial guidelines for managing workload during the COVID‐19 pandemic are needed. Policy‐makers during pandemics have to protect healthcare providers who feel they are at high risk of infection.