Determinants of employee motivation and retention intention: a study at Nhon Trach Medical Center

Abstract: This study aims to identify the factors influencing employee motivation and examine the effect of work motivation on employees’ intention to stay at Nhon Trach Medical Center. Survey data collected from 198 employees were analyzed using the PLS-SEM method via SmartPLS software. The results indicate that all five factors positively affect work motivation, with the work environment exerting the strongest influence, followed by job characteristics, training and promotion opportunities, salary-bonus-benefit policies, and, with the weakest effect, relationships with supervisors. In addition, work motivation has a positive impact on employees’ intention to stay. The study contributes by extending theoretical validation within the context of Viet Nam’s primary healthcare sector and provides managerial implications for enhancing motivation and employee retention.

Keywords: Intention to stay, work motivation, PLS-SEM, employee retention, primary health care center, Nhon Trach, Dong Nai

Authors: Huynh Mai Thanh Thao, Le Vu Ha (2026)

Vietnam Economic Financial Review, No. 15 (2/2026), pp 247 – 251