ASSOCIATION BETWEEN QUALITY OF WORK LIFE (QWL) AND PERFORMANCE OF EMPLOYEES IN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND SELECTED HOSPITALS OF AHVAZ JUNDISHAPUR UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, 2016

Quality of work life is one of the key factors affecting employees' performance. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the quality of work life and performance of employees in community health centers and selected hospitals affiliated with Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. In this cross-sectional study, 210 employees were randomly selected as the statistical samples of community health centers and hospitals of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in 2016. Data were collected by the validated questionnaires of employees' quality of work life (Walton's questionnaire) and the employees' work performance (Patterson's questionnaire). The results showed that the quality of work life of the administrative staff was significantly higher than hospital nurses and health care workers (P=0.011). There was a significant relationship between the components of quality of work life and work performance. Based on the regression analysis, the quality of work life significantly results in improving the employees' performance (B=0.164; [95% CI: 0.091-0.237]). In other words, for each unit of increase in the quality of work life for employees, the performance will increase significantly. There is a positive and direct relation between the quality of work life and performance. The social integrity leads to creation of a work environment in which the employees feel a sense of belonging. In case of having such integrity, it is possible to achieve the organizational goals. Since the higher quality of work life is associated with higher performance, managers can improve some important components of quality of work life for the employees by adopting appropriate solutions, thus providing the necessary conditions to improve performance. Key words: Quality of work life, Performance, Community health centers, Hospital.