Job Satisfaction among Polish Primary Care Physicians: Results from the Physicians' Health Study

Abstract

Job satisfaction comprises positive attitudes held by an individual in respect to a work. Job satisfaction of physicians is closely related to the perception of their professional role and thus their place in the health care system. Work satisfaction among physicians is very important issue for physicians themselves, for medical associations and general public because it is associated with physician well-being and health, physician turnover, and with patient satisfaction and quality of medical care in general. The survey was conducted to investigate the level of physicians' work satisfaction with their current professional context (general work satisfaction) as well as satisfaction with particular aspects of work, taking into account socio-demographic and professional factors and also to assess which aspects of the physician's work have a statistically significant effect on the general level of work satisfaction. 800 respondents received 17-item questionnaire that measured five facets of work satisfaction. 520 completed questionnaires were returned, resulting in response rate of 65%. In general, physicians were more satisfied with the following aspects of their current work situation: patient care, professional relations and personal rewards. The lowest satisfaction scores were found for work-related burden and work-related income and prestige of the profession. The relationship of the various dimensions of job satisfaction were also explored across socio-demographic and job characteristics of the surveyed physicians. Physician career satisfaction appears to be a complex function of a number of variables and has multiple dimensions.