Practice Organization Characteristics Related to Job Satisfaction Among General Practitioners in 11 Countries.
- Cohidon C Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland christine.cohidon@hospvd.ch.
- Wild P Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Senn N Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- 2019-11-13
Published in:
- Annals of family medicine. - 2019
general practitioner
job dissatisfaction
organizational factors
Adult
Aged
Attitude of Health Personnel
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
General Practice
General Practitioners
Humans
Internationality
Job Satisfaction
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Organizational Culture
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Surveys and Questionnaires
Workload
English
PURPOSE
The consequences of job dissatisfaction among general practitioners (GPs) are well known; both GPs and policy makers should be interested in a better understanding of its determinants. This study aimed to investigate whether the organizational and functional features of GPs' practices were associated with job dissatisfaction in 11 countries.
METHODS
We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2015 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians, (n = 12,049). Job dissatisfaction was measured on a 4-point Likert scale using the question: "How satisfied are you regarding your practicing of medicine?" Numerous practice organization characteristics were considered using a multilevel, mixed-effects, ordered logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
Prevalence of dissatisfaction at work varied from 8.1% in Norway to 37.4% in Germany. Dissatisfaction was higher among middle-aged (aged 45-54 years) GPs (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.32 [1.17-1.49]), those practicing in urban areas (AOR = 1.12 [1.03-1.22]), and those working alone. It was associated with a high weekly workloads (AOR = 1.26 [1.12-1.42] if >50 hours), heavy administrative burdens (OR = 1.55 [1.37-1.73]), long delays in hospital discharge notices (AOR = 1.82 [1.52-2.19] if >1 month), and limited possibilities of offering same-day appointments (AOR = 1.83 [1.34-2.50]). Using electronic health records (OR = 0.82 [0.68-0.98]) and having an in-practice case manager (AOR = 0.84 [0.75-0.95]) were associated with lower dissatisfaction.
CONCLUSIONS
Heavy workloads are clearly associated with job dissatisfaction among GPs. Organizational changes such as group practices, employing case managers, and using electronic health records could potentially reduce this burden. Workloads could also be relieved by diversifying GPs' activities. All health care providers should strive to improve the circulation of information.
The consequences of job dissatisfaction among general practitioners (GPs) are well known; both GPs and policy makers should be interested in a better understanding of its determinants. This study aimed to investigate whether the organizational and functional features of GPs' practices were associated with job dissatisfaction in 11 countries.
METHODS
We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2015 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians, (n = 12,049). Job dissatisfaction was measured on a 4-point Likert scale using the question: "How satisfied are you regarding your practicing of medicine?" Numerous practice organization characteristics were considered using a multilevel, mixed-effects, ordered logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
Prevalence of dissatisfaction at work varied from 8.1% in Norway to 37.4% in Germany. Dissatisfaction was higher among middle-aged (aged 45-54 years) GPs (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.32 [1.17-1.49]), those practicing in urban areas (AOR = 1.12 [1.03-1.22]), and those working alone. It was associated with a high weekly workloads (AOR = 1.26 [1.12-1.42] if >50 hours), heavy administrative burdens (OR = 1.55 [1.37-1.73]), long delays in hospital discharge notices (AOR = 1.82 [1.52-2.19] if >1 month), and limited possibilities of offering same-day appointments (AOR = 1.83 [1.34-2.50]). Using electronic health records (OR = 0.82 [0.68-0.98]) and having an in-practice case manager (AOR = 0.84 [0.75-0.95]) were associated with lower dissatisfaction.
CONCLUSIONS
Heavy workloads are clearly associated with job dissatisfaction among GPs. Organizational changes such as group practices, employing case managers, and using electronic health records could potentially reduce this burden. Workloads could also be relieved by diversifying GPs' activities. All health care providers should strive to improve the circulation of information.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- gold
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1370/afm.2449
- PMID 31712289
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/860
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