Current status and influencing factors of professional values among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in Sichuan Province_West China Medical Journal

Authors：

PANG Chunwei ,  SONG Linzi

Office of the National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100000, P. R. China;

Corresponding?author：

SONG Linzi, Email: 13811669356@163.com

Keywords：

Healthcare workers; professional values; influencing factors

DOI：

10.7507/1002-0179.202511075

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Objective To investigate the current status of professional values among healthcare workers in Sichuan Province and explore the associated influencing factors, thereby providing evidence for enhancing professional values and improving hospital management. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023. Healthcare workers from 25 hospitals in Sichuan Province were recruited using convenience sampling. A general information questionnaire and the Professional Values Scale for Healthcare Workers were administered to assess the current status of professional values and explore the influencing factors. Results A total of 4502 questionnaires were distributed, with 4267 valid ones returned, resulting in an effective recovery rate of 94.8%. The total professional values score among the 4267 healthcare workers was 114.95±21.12. The dimensions ranked in descending order of their mean item scores were as follows: intrinsic values (3.89±0.67), altruistic values (3.85±0.72), social values (3.57±0.68), extrinsic values (3.38±0.79), and leisure values (3.12±0.75). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that salary-workload match was the most significant factor influencing professional values. After controlling for other variables, the “very poor match” group scored 38.87 points lower on average than the “excellent match” group (P<0.001). Health status also had a significant impact, with the “very unhealthy” group scoring 26.67 points lower on average than the “very healthy” group (P<0.001). Additionally, nurses scored 3.88 points higher on average than physicians (P<0.001), and males scored 2.10 points lower on average than females (P=0.014). Conclusions The professional values of healthcare workers are characterized by “intrinsic motivation and altruistic orientation”. Salary-workload match and health status are the most critical influencing factors. Healthcare institutions should prioritize pay equity, employee health management, and career development pathways, while adopting differentiated human resource management strategies.

Citation： PANG Chunwei, SONG Linzi. Current status and influencing factors of professional values among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in Sichuan Province. West China Medical Journal, 2025, 40(12): 1911-1918. doi: 10.7507/1002-0179.202511075 Copy

1.	梁飄, 楊西寧, 蘇琳, 等. 臨床護士職業價值觀與領導力的相關性. 護理研究, 2023, 37(23): 4336-4339.
2.	Pakkanen P, H?ggman-Laitila A, Pasanen M, et al. Health and social care workers’ professional values: a cross-sectional study. Nurs Ethics, 2024, 31(5): 681-698.
3.	Ye T, Luo J, He M, et al. Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of Nursing Professional Values Scale (NPVS-3): a quantitative and cross-sectional design. Nurse Educ Pract, 2025, 84: 104325.
4.	熊建英, 黃秋霞, 王建寧, 等. 新入職護士職業價值觀對工作投入影響. 中國職業醫學, 2022, 49(3): 311-314.
5.	Minicuci N, Giorato C, Rocco I, et al. Survey of doctors’ perception of professional values. PLoS One, 2020, 15(12): e0244303.
6.	Marques-Sule E, Baxi H, Arnal-Gómez A, et al. Influence of professional values on attitudes towards professional ethics in future physical therapy professionals. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022, 19(21): 13952.
7.	Brickner S, Fick K, Panice J, et al. Professional values and nursing care quality: a descriptive study. Nurs Ethics, 2024, 31(5): 699-713.
8.	黃慧敏, 蔣光明, 楊秀木, 等. 共情能力和情緒智力在護生職業認同與工作投入間的鏈式中介作用. 中華全科醫學, 2025, 23(9): 1600-1604.
9.	Furgal KE, Norris ES, Young SN, et al. Relative and absolute reliability of the professionalism in physical therapy core values self-assessment tool. J Allied Health, 2018, 47(1): e45-e48.
10.	Weis D, Schank MJ. An instrument to measure professional nursing values. J Nurs Scholarsh, 2000, 32(2): 201-204.
11.	Yeun EJ, Kwon YM, Ahn OH. Development of a nursing professional values scale. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi, 2005, 35(6): 1091-1100.
12.	龔艷艷, 王惠珍, 高鈺琳. 護士職業價值觀量表的編譯和評價. 護理研究, 2011, 25(28): 2628-2630.
13.	鄧敏娉, 陳偉菊, 謝翠媚, 等. 護士職業價值觀量表的研制與考評. 齊魯護理雜志, 2012, 18(12): 95-97.
14.	顧偉敏, 蔣麗娟, 高陽, 等. 醫護人員工作價值觀量表的制定及其信效度測評. 上海交通大學學報(醫學版), 2015, 35(9): 1374-1378, 1388.
15.	李思文, 毛靜馥, 趙璐, 等. Weis 護士職業價值觀量表的編譯與本土化修訂. 中國醫院管理, 2014, 34(12): 69-71.
16.	Poreddi V, Narayanan A, Thankachan A, et al. Professional and ethical values in nursing practice: an Indian perspective. Invest Educ Enferm, 2021, 39(2): e12.
17.	Kim K, Han Y, Kim JS. Korean nurses’ ethical dilemmas, professional values and professional quality of life. Nurs Ethics, 2015, 22(4): 467-478.
18.	Dellafiore F, Grugnetti AM, Caruso R, et al. “Nurses Professional Values Scale-Three”: a validation study among italian nurses and nursing students. J Nurs Meas, 2021, 29(3): 476-490.
19.	Subih M, Al Hadid L, Al Omari D, et al. Professional values development among jordanian baccalaureate nursing students. Nurs Educ Perspect, 2021, 42(6): E26-E30.
20.	Dellafiore F, Rosa D, Udugampolage NS, et al. Professional values and nursing self-efficacy in the Italian context. Correlational descriptive study. Scand J Caring Sci, 2022, 36(1): 142-149.
21.	Hampton D, Heath J, Rayens MK. Strengthening professional values of doctoral-level nursing students. SAGE Open Nurs, 2022, 8: 23779608221126359.
22.	Ashehry AS, Inocian EP, Alharbi HA, et al. Professional values and self-reported clinical competence of acute care nurses in saudi arabia: a cross-sectional study. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ, 2023, 13(11): 2697-2708.
23.	Bimray P, Chipps J, Ticha V. Professional values of undergraduate students at a nursing school in South Africa. Nurs Res Pract, 2023, 2023: 9635033.
24.	Kaya A, Boz ?. The development of the Professional Values Model in Nursing. Nurs Ethics, 2019, 26(3): 914-923.
25.	杜顯昌, 韓立偉, 山丹, 等. 二三級公立醫院護士職業價值觀及其影響因素調查. 中國醫院管理, 2019, 39(8): 68-70.
26.	蔣麗娟, 袁青, 顧偉敏, 等. 人口統計學變量對醫務員工職業價值觀影響規律分析. 上海交通大學學報(醫學版), 2015, 35(11): 1712-1716.
27.	Green SB. How many subjects does it take to do a regression analysis. Multivariate Behav Res, 1991, 26(3): 499-510.
28.	方曉鴻, 姚佳薇, 蘇藝津, 等. 急危重癥科室護理人員醫療成本意識現狀及影響因素分析. 護理學雜志, 2025, 40(21): 44-47.
29.	Deci EL, Ryan RM. Self-determination theory//Van Lange PAM, Kruglanski AW, Higgins ET. Handbook of theories of social psychology: volume 1. London: Sage Publications Ltd, 2012: 416-436.
30.	Pritchard RD. Equity theory: a review and critique. Organ Behav Hum Perform, 1969, 4(2): 176-211.
31.	Chen G, Sang L, Rong J, et al. Current status and related factors of turnover intention of primary medical staff in Anhui Province, China: a cross-sectional study. Hum Resour Health, 2021, 19(1): 23.
32.	Maslow AH. A theory of human motivation. Psychol Rev, 1943, 50(4): 370-396.
33.	Adams JS. Inequity in social exchange//Berkowitz L. Advances in experimental social psychology. New York: Academic Press, 1965: 267-299.
34.	Hlebichuk J, Lancaster R, Tuzik Micek W, et al. Exploring nurses; personal and professional values and care quality: a convergent mixed-methods Analysis. West J Nurs Res, 2025, 47(2): 61-70.
35.	Hu K, Zhou Q, Zhang Y, et al. Latent profile analysis of nurses’ moral courage: a professional values perspective. Nurs Ethics, 2025, 32(2): 678-689.
36.	Wu J. Hierarchy theory: an overview//Rozzi R, Pickett S, Palmer C, et al. Linking ecology and ethics for a changing world: values, philosophy, and action. Dordrecht: Springer, 2013: 281-301.
37.	梁紅梅, 楊雨程, 楊少春. 某三甲醫院醫務青年職業價值觀及其影響因素研究. 現代醫院管理, 2024, 22(5): 65-68.
38.	Vroom VH. Work and motivation. New York: Wiley, 1964.
39.	Twenge JM, Campbell SM, Hoffman BJ, et al. Generational differences in work values: leisure and extrinsic values increasing, social and intrinsic values decreasing. J Manag, 2010, 36(5): 1117-1142.
40.	Maslach C, Leiter MP. Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 2016, 15(2): 103-111.
41.	Kramer M. Reality shock: why nurses leave nursing. Am J Nurs, 1975, 75(5): 891.

1. 梁飄, 楊西寧, 蘇琳, 等. 臨床護士職業價值觀與領導力的相關性. 護理研究, 2023, 37(23): 4336-4339.
2. Pakkanen P, H?ggman-Laitila A, Pasanen M, et al. Health and social care workers’ professional values: a cross-sectional study. Nurs Ethics, 2024, 31(5): 681-698.
3. Ye T, Luo J, He M, et al. Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of Nursing Professional Values Scale (NPVS-3): a quantitative and cross-sectional design. Nurse Educ Pract, 2025, 84: 104325.
4. 熊建英, 黃秋霞, 王建寧, 等. 新入職護士職業價值觀對工作投入影響. 中國職業醫學, 2022, 49(3): 311-314.
5. Minicuci N, Giorato C, Rocco I, et al. Survey of doctors’ perception of professional values. PLoS One, 2020, 15(12): e0244303.
6. Marques-Sule E, Baxi H, Arnal-Gómez A, et al. Influence of professional values on attitudes towards professional ethics in future physical therapy professionals. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022, 19(21): 13952.
7. Brickner S, Fick K, Panice J, et al. Professional values and nursing care quality: a descriptive study. Nurs Ethics, 2024, 31(5): 699-713.
8. 黃慧敏, 蔣光明, 楊秀木, 等. 共情能力和情緒智力在護生職業認同與工作投入間的鏈式中介作用. 中華全科醫學, 2025, 23(9): 1600-1604.
9. Furgal KE, Norris ES, Young SN, et al. Relative and absolute reliability of the professionalism in physical therapy core values self-assessment tool. J Allied Health, 2018, 47(1): e45-e48.
10. Weis D, Schank MJ. An instrument to measure professional nursing values. J Nurs Scholarsh, 2000, 32(2): 201-204.
11. Yeun EJ, Kwon YM, Ahn OH. Development of a nursing professional values scale. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi, 2005, 35(6): 1091-1100.
12. 龔艷艷, 王惠珍, 高鈺琳. 護士職業價值觀量表的編譯和評價. 護理研究, 2011, 25(28): 2628-2630.
13. 鄧敏娉, 陳偉菊, 謝翠媚, 等. 護士職業價值觀量表的研制與考評. 齊魯護理雜志, 2012, 18(12): 95-97.
14. 顧偉敏, 蔣麗娟, 高陽, 等. 醫護人員工作價值觀量表的制定及其信效度測評. 上海交通大學學報(醫學版), 2015, 35(9): 1374-1378, 1388.
15. 李思文, 毛靜馥, 趙璐, 等. Weis 護士職業價值觀量表的編譯與本土化修訂. 中國醫院管理, 2014, 34(12): 69-71.
16. Poreddi V, Narayanan A, Thankachan A, et al. Professional and ethical values in nursing practice: an Indian perspective. Invest Educ Enferm, 2021, 39(2): e12.
17. Kim K, Han Y, Kim JS. Korean nurses’ ethical dilemmas, professional values and professional quality of life. Nurs Ethics, 2015, 22(4): 467-478.
18. Dellafiore F, Grugnetti AM, Caruso R, et al. “Nurses Professional Values Scale-Three”: a validation study among italian nurses and nursing students. J Nurs Meas, 2021, 29(3): 476-490.
19. Subih M, Al Hadid L, Al Omari D, et al. Professional values development among jordanian baccalaureate nursing students. Nurs Educ Perspect, 2021, 42(6): E26-E30.
20. Dellafiore F, Rosa D, Udugampolage NS, et al. Professional values and nursing self-efficacy in the Italian context. Correlational descriptive study. Scand J Caring Sci, 2022, 36(1): 142-149.
21. Hampton D, Heath J, Rayens MK. Strengthening professional values of doctoral-level nursing students. SAGE Open Nurs, 2022, 8: 23779608221126359.
22. Ashehry AS, Inocian EP, Alharbi HA, et al. Professional values and self-reported clinical competence of acute care nurses in saudi arabia: a cross-sectional study. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ, 2023, 13(11): 2697-2708.
23. Bimray P, Chipps J, Ticha V. Professional values of undergraduate students at a nursing school in South Africa. Nurs Res Pract, 2023, 2023: 9635033.
24. Kaya A, Boz ?. The development of the Professional Values Model in Nursing. Nurs Ethics, 2019, 26(3): 914-923.
25. 杜顯昌, 韓立偉, 山丹, 等. 二三級公立醫院護士職業價值觀及其影響因素調查. 中國醫院管理, 2019, 39(8): 68-70.
26. 蔣麗娟, 袁青, 顧偉敏, 等. 人口統計學變量對醫務員工職業價值觀影響規律分析. 上海交通大學學報(醫學版), 2015, 35(11): 1712-1716.
27. Green SB. How many subjects does it take to do a regression analysis. Multivariate Behav Res, 1991, 26(3): 499-510.
28. 方曉鴻, 姚佳薇, 蘇藝津, 等. 急危重癥科室護理人員醫療成本意識現狀及影響因素分析. 護理學雜志, 2025, 40(21): 44-47.
29. Deci EL, Ryan RM. Self-determination theory//Van Lange PAM, Kruglanski AW, Higgins ET. Handbook of theories of social psychology: volume 1. London: Sage Publications Ltd, 2012: 416-436.
30. Pritchard RD. Equity theory: a review and critique. Organ Behav Hum Perform, 1969, 4(2): 176-211.
31. Chen G, Sang L, Rong J, et al. Current status and related factors of turnover intention of primary medical staff in Anhui Province, China: a cross-sectional study. Hum Resour Health, 2021, 19(1): 23.
32. Maslow AH. A theory of human motivation. Psychol Rev, 1943, 50(4): 370-396.
33. Adams JS. Inequity in social exchange//Berkowitz L. Advances in experimental social psychology. New York: Academic Press, 1965: 267-299.
34. Hlebichuk J, Lancaster R, Tuzik Micek W, et al. Exploring nurses; personal and professional values and care quality: a convergent mixed-methods Analysis. West J Nurs Res, 2025, 47(2): 61-70.
35. Hu K, Zhou Q, Zhang Y, et al. Latent profile analysis of nurses’ moral courage: a professional values perspective. Nurs Ethics, 2025, 32(2): 678-689.
36. Wu J. Hierarchy theory: an overview//Rozzi R, Pickett S, Palmer C, et al. Linking ecology and ethics for a changing world: values, philosophy, and action. Dordrecht: Springer, 2013: 281-301.
37. 梁紅梅, 楊雨程, 楊少春. 某三甲醫院醫務青年職業價值觀及其影響因素研究. 現代醫院管理, 2024, 22(5): 65-68.
38. Vroom VH. Work and motivation. New York: Wiley, 1964.
39. Twenge JM, Campbell SM, Hoffman BJ, et al. Generational differences in work values: leisure and extrinsic values increasing, social and intrinsic values decreasing. J Manag, 2010, 36(5): 1117-1142.
40. Maslach C, Leiter MP. Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 2016, 15(2): 103-111.
41. Kramer M. Reality shock: why nurses leave nursing. Am J Nurs, 1975, 75(5): 891.

West China Medical Journal

Current status and influencing factors of professional values among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in Sichuan Province

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