Exploring the link between healthcare organizational culture and provider work satisfaction: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Organizational culture and work satisfaction are fundamental domains important for a good working environment and are closely linked to employees' work performance and well-being in healthcare environments. Although organizational culture is critical, research on how and what domains affect work satisfaction in the healthcare sector remains scattered. By combining the literature, this review will offer significant insights into which factors significantly influence work satisfaction in the healthcare sector. It will also map the literature on this subject, identifying key patterns, gaps, and inconsistencies that can direct future research directions. METHODS: Our review complied with the Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Statement's Preferred Reporting Items. This review used three databases for the literature search (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). The literature search focused on more recent published studies between 2014 and 2024, and the search was conducted in November 2024. Two authors evaluated the bias of studies using a risk of bias template, a critical appraisal tool for use in JBI Systematic Reviews, to assess the risk of bias and the paper's quality. Studies were analyzed and compiled based on the classification of work satisfaction and the direction of the relationship. RESULTS: Six themes of value related to organizational culture were formulated among the included studies to synthesize their associations with work satisfaction. The themes tied to organizational culture were 1) continuous communication, 2) organizational leadership, 3) teamwork, 4) employee involvement in decision-making, 5) employee recognition, and 6) autonomy. CONCLUSION: Implementing strategies tailored to each theme may increase work satisfaction, foster improved organizational performance, increase retention, and improve the quality of patient care. This may serve as a crucial element in forthcoming healthcare system reforms, aiming to harmonize the requirements of providers and recipients alike.