Job satisfaction among male physicians: perspective from Northern Iraq.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the level of job satisfaction among male physicians in northern Iraq.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Three public hospitals in the cities of Erbil and Kirkuk in northern Iraq, from May to June 2004.


METHODS
Male physicians, currently working in public sector hospitals for at least one year, were given a structured, self-administered, anonymous and pre-tested questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. Data were collected on demographic and professional characteristics. Likert scales were used for job related characteristics. Data were analyzed for frequencies and mean scores for demographic and professional characteristics, while job related characteristics were analyzed with means and standard errors.


RESULTS
Out of 174 male physicians participating in this study, 132 (75.8%) responded as always or usually, satisfied with their career as a physician with a mean score of 4.3 (SE 0.1). Ninety-seven (55.7 %) physicians reported their work related stress as either severe or moderate, with a mean score of 2.6 (SE 0.1). But 153 (87.9 %) physicians reported as always or usually being in control of their professional work-related activities, with a mean of 4.5 (SE 0.08), while mean level of stress at home/personal life was 2.2 (SE 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Over seventy percent of male physicians in public-sector hospitals were satisfied with their jobs; however, links between working conditions and levels of job satisfaction were not clearly discernible.
Shaikh
Irshad Ali
IA
Chester Health Department, City Hall, Chester, PA 19013, USA.
Shaikh
Masood Ali
MA
Rasheed
Burhan Omer
BO
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires