Abstract:
Abstract
Background:- In the healthcare profession, timing is essential. All health-care workers must successfully
manage their time since inefficient time management may lead to negative outcomes like decreased
service quality. Poor time management is a significant problem in low- and middle-income nations
including Ethiopia..
Objective: This study aimed to assess time management practice and associated factors among
employees working in public health centers, Dabat District, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional mixed methods (with quantitative and qualitative
components) study was conducted in Daba District from May 27–June 22, 2022. A simple
random sampling technique was used to select 413 study subjects, and for the qualitative six key
informants were selected. Self-administered questionnaires were used for the quantitative part of
the study, and an interview guide was used for the qualitative part Epi-data Software was used
for data entry, while SPSS 26 software was used for analysis. Open Code software was used for
qualitative data analysis. Variables with a p-value of 0.2 in bivariable analysis were included in
the multivariable analysis, and variables with a p-value of<0.05 in multivariable analysis were
regarded as significantly associated factors. Thematic analysis for qualitative data was carried
out.
Results A total of 396 health center Employees participated in the study with a response rate of 95.8%.
The result showed that the status of time management practice was low 54.8% (95% CI: 49.5-59.6%).
Time management practice was significantly associated with planning experience (AOR=2.04, 95% CI:
1.22-3.4), procrastination habit (AOR = 1.65 95% CI 1.04-2.65), performance appraisal (AOR: 1.7, 95%
CI 1.05-2.81) organization-policy and strategy (AOR: 2.6, 95% :1.6-4.3). The qualitative result also
showed that the existing performance appraisal practices were not linked to rewards or sanctions
planning.
Conclusion and recommondation: The TMP of public health center employees working in the Dabat
District was low compared with prior studies. Organizational policies, prior planning expertise,
procrastination, and performance appraisal were all significant factors. Therefore, in order to improve the
time management skills of health centers, managers have to intervene: Evidence-based performance
evaluation and capacity-building activities are needed.
Key-words: Time management practice, Dabat District, Health Center
