ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the financial characteristics and level of satisfaction of physicians practicing in Lebanon. We conducted an anonymous, interviewer- administered phone survey of physicians practicing medicine in Lebanon. We conducted both descriptive and regression analyses. Of 778 invited physicians, 546 participated in the survey [70% response rate]. Their mean age was 47.4 and they were predominantly male [85.9%] and married [87.0%]. Reported monthly income varied widely with 47.2% earning less than US[dollar sign] 2,000, 46.3% earning between [dollar sign] 2,000 and [dollar sign] 6,000 and 6.3% earning more than [dollar sign] 6,000. Only 14.2%, 4.1%, and 3.1% respectively reported having life insurance, disability insurance and a retirement plan. A quarter of participants reported being either somewhat unsatisfied [17.6%] or very unsatisfied [8.1%] with their medical career. A lower degree of satisfaction in professional career was independently associated with female physicians, graduation from a Western European medical school and a lower monthly income. As for the perception of own career's future, 36.7% thought there was no possibility of improvement. About half of physicians practicing in Lebanon report earning less than US[dollar sign] 2,000 per month and about a quarter are not satisfied with their professional career