Job satisfaction-dissatisfaction. A comparison of private practitioners and organizational physical therapists.

Job factors which results in feelings of satisfaction or dissatisfaction were studied in a sample of 25 physical therapists engaged in private practice and 25 physical therapists employed as chiefs of departments. Our purpose was to determine the meaningfulness of work for physical therapists and to compare private practitioners with therapists who work within an organization. Ten factors of the sixteen studied were found to be significantly satisfying or dissatisfying for all therapists. In addition, organizational therapists were satisfied with the work itself and valued recognition for their efforts, whereas private practitioners were more concerned with personal responsibility. Organizational therapists experienced periods of unhappiness with some aspects of interpersonal relationships and with some policies of the organization, and private practitioners were unhappy with long working hours. There was no significant difference in salaries, achievement, possibilities for growth, status, or security.