The Impact of Work Values and Communication Competence on Presenteeism of Al-Jawf Nurses
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Date
2025
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Saudi Digital Library
Abstract
Background: Presenteeism is a critical issue in healthcare, particularly among
nurses who are responsible for providing quality care under challenging conditions.
Work values and communication competence play significant roles in shaping
nurse behavior and performance, with strong work values linked to job satisfaction
and professionalism, while communication competence ensures efficient
collaboration and patient care. However, the interplay between these variables and
their collective impact on presenteeism in nursing remains underexplored,
particularly in the Saudi Arabian context.
Aim: This study aims to explore the impact of work values and communication
competence on presenteeism among nurses in Al-Jawf, Saudi Arabia. The study
investigates if these variables could predict of presenteeism.
Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design was employed
to examine the relationships between work values, communication competence,
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presenteeism, among nurses working in three major healthcare facilities in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia. A sample of 152 full-time registered nurses was recruited using a
convenience sampling method. Data as collected through validated instruments,
including the Work Values and Attitude Scale, the Communication Competence
Scale (CCS), and the Presenteeism Scale in Nursing. Descriptive statistics,
ANOVA, t-tests, and multivariate regression analysis were used to analyze the
data.
Results
A total of 152 nurses participated in the study. The mean scores for work values,
communication competence, and presenteeism were 62.3 (SD = 7.78), 114.6 (SD =
8.17), and 40.6 (SD = 13.9), respectively. Communication competence showed a
strong inverse correlation with presenteeism across all domains (r = -0.49 to -0.51,
p < 0.001). Longer work hours were unexpectedly associated with lower
presenteeism scores (r = -0.25, p = 0.002), while higher income predicted lower
physical presenteeism (r = -0.19, p = 0.021). Nurses living in rural areas and Saudi
nationals reported significantly higher presenteeism compared to their counterparts
(p = 0.035 and p = 0.048, respectively). Hierarchical regression confirmed
communication competence as the strongest independent negative predictor of
presenteeism (β = -0.45, p < 0.001), followed by nationality (β = 7.17, p = 0.012).
Conclusion
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Communication competence emerged as a key protective factor against
presenteeism among nurses, highlighting its critical role in maintaining workforce
effectiveness and patient care quality. The findings also underscore the influence
of sociodemographic factors, such as nationality and place of residence, on
presenteeism levels. Targeted interventions to enhance communication skills and
address contextual challenges, particularly in rural and culturally diverse settings,
may help reduce presenteeism and improve healthcare delivery.
Keywords: work values, communication competence, presenteeism, Saudi Arabia
Description
The nursing profession in Saudi Arabia, like many other countries, is facing
significant challenges related to inadequate work values, poor communication
competence, compounded by the persistent issue of presenteeism among nurses.
Work values, which encompass intrinsic aspects such as autonomy,
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professionalism, and caring, and extrinsic factors like job security and recognition,
are vital in shaping the performance, satisfaction, and commitment of nurses
(Komagata et al., 2020; Gassas & Salem, 2022; Kaya et al., 2020). However, in
many Saudi hospitals, nurses are found to exhibit weakened work values,
particularly in areas like leadership, autonomy, and professional responsibility (Al
Anazi, 2021; Ashehry et al., 2023). For example, a study revealed that Saudi
nurses scored significantly lower on leadership values (mean score = 3.38, SD =
1.60), and adapting to organizational requests against personal principles showed
the lowest levels of agreement (mean score = 2.62, SD = 0.65) (Al Anazi, 2021).
This deficiency in work values can lead to reduced job satisfaction, increased
turnover, and a decline in the quality of patient care (Mohamed et al., 2021; Gassas
& Salem, 2022; Hara et al., 2023).
Similarly, communication competence is crucial for effective nursing
practice, as it ensures smooth collaboration among healthcare professionals and
promotes patient safety (Kim & Lee, 2014; Afriyie, 2020; Kim & Chang, 2022).
Unfortunately, inadequate communication competence is prevalent among Saudi
nurses, leading to increased errors and misunderstandings (Kim & Lee, 2014;
Mehralian et al., 2023). Studies suggest that nurses with lower communication
competence struggle with emotional regulation and providing clear instructions,
which directly impacts patient care and safety (Kim & Chang, 2022; Mehralian et
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al., 2023). For instance, a study found that communication competence scores were
notably lower in handling authority figures (mean = 2.19, SD = 0.36), which
further exacerbated presenteeism among nurses (Mehralian et al., 2023; Kim &
Chang, 2022).
Moreover, presenteeism, defined as attending work while unwell, is a
growing issue in the Saudi healthcare system, leading to decreased nurse
compromised patient care (Shdaifat, 2023; Rainbow & Steege, 2017). In Saudi
Arabia, presenteeism has been linked to factors such as heavy workloads, poor
work conditions, and a lack of support, all of which exacerbate stress and reduce
nurses’ ability to perform effectively (Shdaifat, 2023; Al Anazi, 2021). Studies
indicate that presenteeism, combined with inadequate work values and poor
communication competence, creates a toxic work environment where ultimately
affecting patient safety and care outcomes (Santos et al., 2021; Carvalho et al.,
2021; Mohammadi et al., 2021).
While a significant amount of research has been conducted on work values,
communication competence, and presenteeism, there remains a fragmented and
incomplete understanding of how these variables interact holistically to impact
nurse presenteeism (Komagata et al., 2020; Gassas & Salem, 2022; Al Anazi,
2021). Many studies focus on individual aspects of these variables, such as
examining professional values in isolation or exploring communication
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competence without considering its broader impact on presenteeism (Kim & Lee,
2014; Kim & Chang, 2022; Hara et al., 2023). For example, studies addressing
work values tend to emphasize specific subcomponents like professionalism and
caring but fail to incorporate other essential elements such as autonomy and justice
(Komagata et al., 2020; Ashehry et al., 2023). Similarly, research on
communication competence often highlights emotional regulation and
assertiveness but does not comprehensively address how these skills directly
influence presenteeism (Afriyie, 2020; Mehralian et al., 2023). This fragmented
view fails to provide a comprehensive understanding of how work values,
communication competence, and presenteeism collectively affect nurse
presenteeism in healthcare settings.
In Saudi Arabia, the research on these variables is even more limited and
suffers from several critical gaps. While a few studies have examined work values
and communication competence among nurses, they often focus on specific aspects
such as job satisfaction or clinical competence, neglecting the broader interplay
between work values, communication competence, presenteeism (Al Anazi, 2021;
Ashehry et al., 2023; Grande et al., 2023). For instance, studies like Al Anazi
(2021) focus primarily on work values in relation to job satisfaction but do not
explore how these values might affect presenteeism simultaneously. Similarly,
studies on presenteeism in Saudi Arabia tend to concentrate on its prevalence and
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causes but fail to link it to underlying work values and communication deficits
(Shdaifat, 2023). Thus, there remains a significant research gap in understanding
how inadequate work values and poor communication competence contribute to
presenteeism, particularly within the Saudi nursing context. Given the increasing
demand for high-quality healthcare in Saudi Arabia, where the nursing workforce
is a critical component, it is essential to address these gaps by investigating how
these variables interact holistically. This study aims to fill this research gap by
exploring the interconnections between work values, communication competence,
presenteeism among nurses in Al-Jawf, Saudi Arabia.
Keywords
work values, communication competence, presenteeism, Saudi Arabia