The Effect of Work Engagement on Health Worker Work Performance: A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Analysis in Kendari City Primary Health Facility, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, 2025

The existence of health personnel in primary healthcare facilities has a very fundamental role in the implementation of first-level health services. However, various challenges such as limited manpower, uneven distribution, and high workload lead to psychological distress and decreased work performance. One of the psychological factors that plays an important role in maintaining and improving the work performance of health personnel is employee engagement. This study aims to analyze the influence of employee engagement on the work performance of health personnel in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi Province.

Methods: This study used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. The study sample amounted to 236 health personnel who were selected using the proportionate stratified random sampling technique, covering all types of health personnel in primary healthcare facilities. Data analysis was carried out using Partial Least Square–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the help of SmartPLS software version 4.

Results: The findings indicated that employee engagement had a positive and noteworthy effect on the work performance of health personnel, with a path coefficient value of 0.853, t-statistic of 30.656 (>1.96), and p-value of 0.000 (<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the results of the analysis, it can be determined that there is an influence of employee engagement on the work performance of health personnel. Therefore, Community Primary Health Facility leaders need to implement transformational and transactional leadership styles that can foster a sense of belonging, appreciation and meaning of work for health personnel, increase opportunities for self-development and competence, and create a collaborative work environment.