Research on the retention factors of interns majoring in elderly care service in Chinese higher vocational colleges: based on a qualitative comparative analysis method (QCA)

Abstract

Introduction. As China enters the aging population society, there is a higher demand for the quantity and quality of elderly care services, and further triggers the continuous demand for elderly care service talents in China. Some Chinese higher vocational colleges have set up majors in elderly care service management, and continuously transfer students to elderly care service institutions, but the mobility is still relatively high by survey. In this case, analyzing the factors affecting interns’ retention has become a major issue. Study participants and methods. Students who majored in elderly care services at a local higher vocational college in Wenzhou, China, and had internship experience in nursing institutions were chosen as the study's subjects. Students must complete an 8-month internship program, which includes a post-internship and a graduation internship. Non-probability sampling was utilized to extract the sample. For the questionnaire survey on internship duration, 100 higher vocational graduate students majoring in elderly care services were chosen, and 15 interns were chosen for interviews., and then they were analyzed using a qualitative comparative analysis method (QCA). Results. The analysis results for QCA: The personal psychological capital of the interns was the first core factor in any case. At the same time, even if there was no family support and high workload factors, the interns could stay as long as they can get a satisfactory internship salary and satisfactory accommodation & diet; Or even if there was no satisfactory internship salary and satisfactory accommodation & diet factors, as long as they had family support and low workload design, interns also could stay. While according to the data survey, 67% of students did not finish their internships, and 37% of those students departed their positions before the mandatory four months had passed. This is sufficient evidence that internship retention rates are quite poor among higher vocational students in China who major in senior care services. Practical significance. Good psychological capital, family support, and a moderate workload were all necessary for the internship to be successful. The internship requires an environment that cater the full supports intern. The ministry human resource management, needs to play a significant role in enforcing the policy to monitor the system that supports the internship process, ensuring that the business community is informed about internship-related concerns, and support the internship support system.