IMPACT OF MATERIAL AND MORAL INCENTIVES ON PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL STAFF AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN HOSPITALS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN PALESTINE
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Date
2025-12-11
Authors
Khawaja, Hazem
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Publisher
An-Najah National University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Theoretical background: Healthcare professionals are vital resources in every healthcare organization for providing high-quality services. However, healthcare professionals need sustained motivation to maintain high performance standards. This motivation comes from a sound incentive system, represented by both material incentives and moral incentives (M.M), thus, healthcare organizations utilize them to motivate their healthcare professionals, enhance their healthcare performance, and thereby improve health outcomes and the profits of healthcare organizations.
Aim: To assess the impact of M.M on healthcare performance and health outcomes of healthcare professionals in hospitals in the West Bank of Palestine.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed. An administered online questionnaire, prepared using Google Forms, is the primary data collection method. Additionally, the primary sampling technique employed is stratified random sampling among healthcare professionals from various specialties. Subsequently, the study sample consisted of 437 medical staff from governmental and private hospitals in the West Bank of Palestine. A Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for data analysis.
Results: The sample consisted of 117 Doctors (26.8%), 72 Pharmacists and a Phar.D. degree (16.5%), 163 Nurses (37.3%), 72 Laboratory Technicians (16.5%) and 13 X-Ray Technicians (3%). The impact of M.M on the performance of healthcare professionals of Palestinian hospitals was moderate and positive as showed for material incentives Pearson's correlation coefficients (R = 0.544, P < 0.001) and for moral incentives Spearman’s correlation coefficients (R = 0.613, P < 0.001). The M.M, as well as the healthcare performance in private hospitals, were better than those in governmental hospitals. Additionally, the results showed that M.M, and performance had a greater impact on participants who achieved health outcomes, (median = 21 ), ( median = 17), (median = 9) respectively compared to those who did not (median = 18), ( median = 13), (median = 7) respectively.
Conclusions: The M.M, and performance in private hospitals are better than those in governmental hospitals. A significantly positive moderate correlation was found between M.M with healthcare performance. Additionally, M.M and healthcare performance had a greater impact on participants who achieved health outcomes. Private hospitals were more likely to achieve better health outcomes.