Ethical work climate and the intention to leave the service in emergency medical technicians during the COVID-19 pandemic

Seyed Kazem Mousavi; Mohsen Kamali; Zeinab  Bahrami Eyvanaki

doi:10.18502/jmehm.v15i9.11565

Seyed Kazem Mousavi Researcher, Department of Nursing, Abhar School of Nursing, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. PhD Candidate of Nursing, Shahid Beheshti School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Mohsen Kamali Researcher, Department of Nursing, Abhar School of Nursing, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. PhD Candidate of Medical Education, Department of Medical Education, Virtual School of Medical Education and Management, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Zeinab Bahrami Eyvanaki Researcher, Department of Nursing, Abhar School of Nursing, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jmehm.v15i9.11565

Keywords: Ethical work climate; Intention to leave; Emergency medical technicians; COVID-19.

Abstract

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are very likely to leave the profession due to their obligation to work in critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the ethical work climate and the intention to leave the service among EMTs.

In this descriptive correlational study, 315 EMTs working in Zanjan province were surveyed using the census method in 2021. The research tools included the Ethical Work Climate and the Intention to Leave the Service questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21.

We found the mean (SD) score of the organization's ethical work
climate to be 73.93 (±12.53), and the intention to leave the service
12.54 (±4.52), which are at a moderate level.
A statistically significant positive correlation existed between these
variables (r = 0.148, P = 0.017). Also, there was a statistically
significant relationship between age and employment status among
the demographic variables, and the ethical work climate and the intention to leave (P < 0.05).
Our findings indicate that ethical work climate is one of the influential but less noticed factors that affect the performance of EMTs. Therefore, it is suggested that managers implement measures to develop a positive ethical work climate to reduce the tendency to leave the service among EMTs.