TIME MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG EMPLOYEES AT DISTRICT HOSPITALS, NORTH GONDAR ZONE, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA, 2017

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Time management practice is the process of influencing an individual’s key behavioral dimensions to complete as many tasks as possible within a given time period. Time management practice can facilitate productivity and success, contributing to work effectiveness, maintaining balance and job satisfaction. Personal factors, organizational factors and employees’ performance were the most important factors which play an important role in determining employees’ time management practice. Objectives: The aim was to assess time management Practices and associated factors of employees at district hospitals, North Gondar zone, northwest Ethiopia, 2017. Methods: Institutional based quantitative cross-sectional study among 422 study participants supplemented with in-depth interview was conducted. Data were entered into Epi-info Version 7 then exported to SPSS Version 20 and were analyzed through Bivariate logistic regression and variables with p-value less than 0.2 were included in multiple logistic regressions. Manual thematic analyses of qualitative data were done. Result: 391 out of 422 participants fully responded with a response rate of 92.65%. In addition, seven purposively selected participants were involved in an in depth interview. The prevalence of time management practices of employees were 56.4% with 95%CI (49.3, 61.7). Being satisfied with organizational policies were 2.163 times [AOR = 2.163; 95% CI:(1.021, 4.686)], satisfied with performance appraisals were 2.113 times ?AOR: 2.113; 95% CI (1.322, 4.667)?, satisfied with compensation and benefits were 4.183 times?AOR: 4.183; 95%CI: (2.188, 7.996)?, and employees who were planning at work were 2.861 times ?AOR: 2.861; 95% CI: (1.423-5.751)] had good time management practices than their respective counterparts. Conclusion and Recommendation: The overall good time management practice among the study subjects were poor which can affect the quality and coverage of health care. The results of this study suggest that managers and employees need to carry out interventions to improve the employees’ time management practice.

Keywords: Time management practices, employees, district hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia.