Job satisfaction among doctors, a multi-faceted subject studied at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the level of job satisfaction among doctors serving in a tertiary care hospital in Lahore and ascertain its co-relation with multiple demographic variables which had a profound impact. Methods: This cross sectional study with non-probability purposive sampling was conducted at Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, from February 2014 to November 2014. Subjects were doctors serving in that hospital for minimum six months duration. Pre-formed questionnaires were distributed to volunteers [average filling time was 3 ½ to 7 minutes]. Multiple demographic features were independent variables. Outcome variable was job satisfaction. Statistical analysis was done via descriptive statistics [SPSS 20], data expressed as mean +/- standard deviation [SD]. Results: Out of 263 doctors serving in hospital, 203 [77.91%] volunteered to participate; response rate by depositing the filled forms was 47.78% [97 doctors]. Amongst the respondents, 10 [10.3%] doctors had below average job satisfaction, 32[33.0%], 21[21.6%], 21[21.6%] and 13[13.3%] had average, above average, well above average and outstanding job satisfaction respectively. There was significant relation between job satisfaction and age group of the doctors [p 0.025], education [p 0.015], service years [p 0.013] income per month [p<0.001]. There was no significant impact of gender [p 0.540], marital status [p 0.087], number of children [p 0.153], current employment [p 0.71], nature of job [p 0.204], working hours [p 0.089], additional duties [p 0.421] and socioeconomic class [p 0.104] on outcome variable. Conclusion: A significant number of doctors was found discontented with their job, which may consequently impact their yield/ performance. The job satisfaction can be substantially improved if these contributory factors are aptly addressed at all tiers