FACTORS INFLUENCING CAREER CHOICE AND SATISFACTION IN PEDIATRICS

Abstract

The “dissatisfied pediatrician syndrome” has been manifested in an extremely high career burn-out rate among pediatricians. This study's purpose was to cite factors which lead to career satisfaction and dissatisfaction or burn-out in pediatricians. METHODOLOGY: Pediatricians (87) surveyed in Washington, D.C. and at the fall 1983 AAP meeting career assessment exhibit (125) completed a questionnaire, the FIRO-B Scale, and Rezler Learning Preference Inventory. 63% were in practice, 32% in academics, and 5% in research or other. 73% were males; 27% were females. RESULTS: Many pediatricians, unrelated to career choice or satisfaction, reported feeling stressed and tense. Dissatisfying factors were: long hours, busy workloads, inadequate remuneration, stress, and malpractice threats. Academicians found the difficulty of balancing patient care, administration, research, and teaching responsibilities and the lack of support and time for research and teaching to be dissatisfying. Practitioners reported endless telephone calls, practice management, insecurity, routine work, limited time for research and teaching and lack of contact with peers to be dissatisfying. The time spent in patient care, teaching, administration, and research were found to significantly correlate with career satisfaction. Career profiles for pediatricians in practice and academics were predictable based on study results.