Health‐Related Quality of Life and the Phenomenon of Quiet Quitting Among Healthcare Professionals in a High‐Complexity Orthopedic Hospital: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Monica Guberti, Guglielmo Celli, Teresa Notarnicola, Alessia Di Cecco, Marika Tomasello, Rosetta Balzano, Mattia MorriABSTRACT
Aim(s)
To assess the physical and mental components of health‐related quality of life among healthcare professionals working in a high‐complexity orthopedic hospital; to identify the factors associated with these components; and to examine their association with quiet quitting, with particular attention to nursing staff.
Methods
A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a mono‐specialty high‐complexity orthopedic hospital in Northern Italy. Data were collected from 03 to 30 June 2025, through an online survey, and all staff were eligible, including nurses, physiotherapists, technicians, and social‐health workers. Health‐related quality of life was measured using a 12‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey questionnaire covering physical and mental components. Socio‐demographic and work‐related variables were collected to explore factors associated with health‐related quality of life, including professional role and work setting. Quiet quitting was assessed using a validated scale.
Results
A total of 527 participants were included. Most patients were female (70.4%) and aged 31–50 years (58.7%). Nurses represented the largest professional group (65.5%) and were mainly employed in inpatient wards (57.4%). A physical quality of life above the normative threshold (PCS ≥ 50) was found in 61.1% of workers (95% CI: 56.9–65.2), whereas 22.4% reported a mental quality of life above the normative threshold (95% CI: 19.0–26.2). Technicians and physiotherapists were more likely to report higher physical well‐being (OR 2.26; 95% CI: 1.23–4.13), while social‐health workers were more likely to report higher mental well‐being (OR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.20–3.49). Quiet quitting was consistently associated with lower physical (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.90–0.97) and mental (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.86–0.94) quality of life across all professional groups.
Conclusion
Quiet quitting was associated with both physical and mental health‐related quality of life among healthcare professionals in a high‐complexity orthopedic setting. Differences across professional groups suggest that roles, skills, and responsibilities may be relevant to workers' well‐being.
Clinical Relevance
These findings highlight the importance of nursing leadership in monitoring staff well‐being and implementing strategies to address workloads, role expectations, and engagement. Supportive interventions may enhance staff well‐being and sustain the quality and safety of patient care.
Trial Registration
The study protocol was registered on