Differences in Commuting Modes and Residential Locations as Factors of Turnover Intention of Healthcare Workers of Ambulatory Clinics

Abstract

Organisations require novel perspectives for achieving a stable workforce. One of such perspectives is having healthy employees, through timely medical care in ambulatory clinics. But when healthcare providers exhibit turnover intentions, and ultimately turnover behaviour, the purpose for such facilities is defeated. The study sought to understand if healthcare workers’ commuting modes and the differences in their residential locations affect their turnover intentions. These variables, which are yet to be investigated in the turnover literature, were examined within the assumptions of discrete choice model. Therefore, 137 healthcare workers of 11 ambulatory clinics, randomly selected from operating clinics in Marina, Lagos Island, were surveyed using purposive sampling method. The results suggest that the differences in residential locations did not produce statistically significant differences in turnover intention. However, there were significant differences in turnover intentions of participants who drive their cars and those who commute with public transport (F (1, 131) = 9.14, p < 0.01). Further result negates the constant travel time hypothesis and the discrete choice model. The recommendations are focused on coordinated transport schedules, decentralised congested economic activities and polycentric city planning policies. These will enhance dispersed commuting.