The influence mechanism of psychological contract on primary medical staff's turnover intention in the context of COVID-19 pandemic in China

Objective This research aims to study the influence mechanism of psychological contract on the turnover intention of primary medical staff in the context of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) fighting. Methods Six hundred and fifteen primary medical staff from 13 primary health care institutions in Jianghan District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China were selected by random sampling. Psychological contract, emotional exhaustion and turnover intention questionnaires were adjusted appropriately according to research needs, and 5-point Likert scale was used to measure. Results Normal, interpersonal, and developmental contracts were negatively associated with turnover intention. Emotional exhaustion mediated the effects of interpersonal and developmental contracts on turnover intention. Conclusion The government should establish a long-term incentive mechanism for primary medical staff, fully recognise the work of them in fighting against COVID-19, pay close attention to the psychological state of them, and carry out timely and effective psychological intervention to alleviate their emotional exhaustion and reduce their turnover intention.