Study selection
In this systematic review and meta-analysis 3,993 records were searched. From this, 802 duplicate records were removed and 3,165 records were excluded after screening by title and abstract. A total of 26 full-text articles were screened for eligibility. From these, 12 of them fulfilled the eligibility or quality criteria and included in the final analysis (Fig. 1).
Characteristics of included studies to estimate the pooled job satisfaction among nurses
The included articles were published from 2014 to December 19, 2019 in different regions of the country and were cross-sectional in design [2, 6, 9, 16, 28–31]. A total of 2,002 participants were included in this review. Of these, 1,121 cases were identified. Study conducted at Bahir Dar city administrative, North West Ethiopia took the maximum sample size (424) [9], and minimum sampled size (98) was recorded in a study in East Arsi Oromia Regional state [31]. (Table 1).
Table 1
Characteristic of the included studies to estimate the pooled proportion of job satisfaction among nurses in the Ethiopian nursing workforces.
ID | Authors | Publication year | Study design | Study setting | Sample size total | cases of job satisfaction | Proportion of job satisfaction | Study quality |
1 | Kitaba M. et al(6) | 2014 | Cross sectional | Harari Region & Diredawa | 255 | 152 | 59.6 | Moderate |
2 | Semachew A. et al(2) | 2017 | Cross sectional | Jimma zone public hospitals | 417 | 216 | 51.8 | High |
3 | Ayalew F. et al(30) | 2017 | Cross sectional | Public health facilities of Ethiopia | 316 | 213 | 67.4 | High |
4 | Abadiga M. et al(29) | 2018 | Cross sectional | Jimma University Specialized Hospital | 226 | 98 | 43.4 | Moderate |
5 | Ayalew E. & Workineh Y.(9) | 2019 | Cross sectional | Bahir Dar city | 424 | 258 | 60.8 | High |
6 | G/Medhin G,& Berhe H.(16) | 2019 | Cross sectional | Tigray, public hospitals | 266 | 137 | 51.5 | Moderate |
7 | Belay A. et al (31) | 2019 | cross sectional | East Arsi | 98 | 47 | 48.0 | Moderate |
Characteristics of included studies on intention to remain employed in nursing profession
The included articles were published from 2014 to December 19, 2017 in different regions of the country and were cross-sectional in design [3, 25, 26, 32, 33]. A total of 1,751 participants were included in this review. Of these, 916 cases were identified. Study conducted at Jimma Zone Public Hospitals, Oromia region took the minimum sample size (249) [32], and maximum sampled size (424) was recorded in a study in public health facilities of Ethiopia [33] (Table 2).
Table 2
Characteristic of the included studies to estimate the pooled intention to be employed in nursing profession among nurses in the Ethiopian nursing workforces.
ID | First Author | Publication year | Study design | Study setting | Sample size total | Intension to stay cases | Proportion of intension to stay | Study quality |
1. | Engeda EH et al(3) | 2014 | Cross sectional | Amhara Regional State Referral Hospitals | 389 | 155 | 39.8 | High |
2. | Ayalew F et al(33) | 2015 | Cross sectional | Public health facilities of Ethiopia | 424 | 211 | 49.8 | High |
3. | Getie GA et al(25) | 2015 | Cross sectional | East Gojjam, Amhara Region | 372 | 151 | 40.6 | Low |
4. | Gizaw AB et al(32) | 2016 | Cross sectional | Jimma Zone Public Hospitals | 249 | 216 | 86.7 | Moderate |
5. | Gesesew HA et al (26) | 2017 | Cross sectional | Jimma University Teaching Hospital | 317 | 183 | 57.7 | Moderate |
Trends of job satisfaction and intention to remain employed in nursing profession among Ethiopian nursing workforces
As it is indicated in (Fig. 2) the proportion of job satisfaction is a little beat declining from 2014 (59.6%) to 2019 (48%) while the proportion of intention to remain employed in nursing profession is increasing from 2014 ( 39%) to 2017 (86.7%) (Fig. 3).
Pooled proportion of job satisfaction and intention to remain employed among nurses
Regarding job satisfaction, the I2 test result showed that the studies were heterogynous (I2 = 87.2%, P ≤ 0.001), which is indicative of using random effects model. The overall proportion of job satisfaction among nurses was 54.96% (95% CI: 48.83%, 61%) (Fig. 4). The I2 test result of studies for intention to remain employed in nursing profession showed that the studies were heterogynous (I2 = 98.7%, P ≤ 0.001), which is indicative of using random effects model. The overall proportion of intention to remain employed in nursing profession was 54.94% (95% CI: 36.44%, 73.45%). (Fig. 5)
Subgroup analysis by publication year and study quality
In the sub-group analysis of job satisfaction studies by publication year and study quality, higher heterogeneity was observed among studies conducted from 2014–2017 (I2 = 89.7%, P ≤ 0.001) (Fig. 6) and studies with high quality (I2 = 95.5%, P ≤ 0.001)) (Fig. 7). Sub- group analysis of articles for intension to remain employed in nursing profession by publication year indicated higher heterogeneity was observed among studies conducted from 2016–2017 ((I2 = 98.5%, P ≤ 0.001).(Fig. 8)
Assessing publication biases
As it is indicated in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 articles in the inverted funnel are distributed almost symetrically. This indicated as there is no publication bias visually.
Fill and trim analysis
In the fill and trimming analysis there were no trimming performed on the articles included in both job satisfaction and intention to remain employed. (Fig. 11 and Fig. 12)