Job satisfaction of general practitioners: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries

Emiel J Stobbe,Peter P Groenewegen,Willemijn Schäfer

doi:10.1186/s12960-021-00604-0

Abstract

BackgroundJob satisfaction of general practitioners (GPs) is important because of the consequences of low satisfaction for GPs, their patients and the health system, such as higher turnover, health problems for the physicians themselves, less satisfied patients, poor clinical outcomes and suboptimal health care delivery. In this study, we aim to explain differences in the job satisfaction of GPs within and between countries.MethodsWe performed a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data, collected between 2010 and 2012 on 7379 GPs in 34 (mostly European) countries, as well as data on country and health system characteristics from public databases. Job satisfaction is measured through a composite score of six items about self-reported job experience. Operationalisation of the theoretical constructs includes variables, such as the range of services GPs provide, working hours, employment status, and feedback from colleagues. Data were analysed using linear multilevel regression analysis, with countries and GPs as levels. We developed hypotheses on the basis of the Social Production Function Theory, assuming that GPs ‘produce’ job satisfaction through stimulating work that provides a certain level of comfort, adds to their social status and provides behavioural confirmation.ResultsJob satisfaction varies between GPs and countries, with high satisfaction in Denmark and Canada (on average 2.97 and 2.77 on a scale from 1–4, respectively) and low job satisfaction in Spain (mean 2.15) and Hungary (mean 2.17). One-third of the total variance is situated on the country level, indicating large differences between countries, and countries with a higher GDP per capita have more satisfied GPs. Health system characteristics are not related to GP job satisfaction. At the GP and practice level, performing technical procedures and providing preventive care, feedback from colleagues, and patient satisfaction are positively related to GP job satisfaction and working more hours is negatively related GP job satisfaction.ConclusionOverall and in terms of our theoretical approach, we found that GPs are able to ‘produce’ work-related well-being through activities and resources related to stimulation, comfort and behavioural confirmation, but not to status.

Highlights

Job satisfaction of general practitioners (GPs) is important because of the consequences of low satisfaction for GPs, their patients and the health system, such as higher turnover, health problems for the physicians themselves, less satisfied patients, poor clinical outcomes and suboptimal health care delivery
Knowing how much of the variation in GP job satisfaction is between countries and what it is in countries and their health system that explains this variation, may provide a starting point for policy development
The countries in this study substantially differ with regard to GP job satisfaction

Summary

Introduction

Job satisfaction of general practitioners (GPs) is important because of the consequences of low satisfaction for GPs, their patients and the health system, such as higher turnover, health problems for the physicians themselves, less satisfied patients, poor clinical outcomes and suboptimal health care delivery. We performed a secondary analysis of a large dataset that includes a measure of GP job satisfaction in 34 (mainly European) countries, collected in the ‘Quality and Costs of Primary Care in Europe’ (QUALICOPC) study [8]. This adds an international perspective to the existing literature. Personal and practice characteristics of GPs only explain a small portion of the overall variation in job satisfaction [9]. Knowing how much of the variation in GP job satisfaction is between countries and what it is in countries and their health system that explains this variation, may provide a starting point for policy development

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