Prevalence and associated factors of low resilience among public primary healthcare workers in Kuala Lumpur: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Primary healthcare systems face many challenges, making it imperative to assess the resilience of primary healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to uncover the prevalence and associated factors of low resilience among HCWs in W.P. Kuala Lumpur.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 430 HCWs in public primary healthcare facilities in W.P. Kuala Lumpur. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the General Anxiety Disorder-7 and the 25-item Wagnild–Young Resilience Scale were administered.
Results: Four hundred thirty HCWs were approached, among whom 415 were included in the analysis (response rate=96.5%). The prevalence of low resilience was 31.6%. Female sex (odds ratio [OR]=1.87; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] =1.05–3.32), ≤10 years of work experience (OR=1.94; 95% CI=1.20–3.16) and depression (OR=2.53; 95% CI=1.46–4.41) were associated with low resilience.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of low resilience among primary HCWs is a critical concern. Factors such as being a woman, having limited work experience and experiencing depression are associated with low resilience. It is imperative to identify and implement targeted interventions to promote resilience among HCWs effectively.