Job satisfaction of a group of surgical and non-surgical physicians at a Hispanic academic medical center, 2006-2007.

BACKGROUND

Job satisfaction has been associated with motivation, job involvement, job commitment, patient's satisfaction, and quality of care. Physician's job satisfaction may improve retention and performance in clinical practice, and maximize quality of services.

METHODS

Job satisfaction was assessed in a group of non-resident surgical and non-surgical married physicians of the UPR SOM during the 2006-2007 academic year. Job satisfaction was measured using an 18-item scale.

RESULTS

Ninety-two (n=92) physicians completed a self-administered questionnaire for a response rate of 34.8%. Almost all (90.0%) reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their job. Satisfaction was very high in both surgical and non-surgical physicians, and similar in both males and females. The physicians who were most satisfied with their jobs were those aged 35 or less, those who had completed their residency/fellowship in the previous 10 years, those whose spouse was not a physician, those who reported being previously married, and those who were not active in their religion.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, almost all the physicians in both genders reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their job. The younger physicians, who are also probably the same that completed their residency/fellowship in the previous 10 years, were the most satisfied with their jobs. Satisfaction was very high in both the surgical and the non-surgical group. The findings in this population differ from other groups, particularly in the high level of satisfaction among younger doctors and the similar satisfaction levels among genders.