title: Job satisfaction among radiation therapy educators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Job satisfaction is one of the most consistent variables related to employee retention and is especially relevant considering the shortage of radiation therapists and radiation therapy educators in the United States.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate job satisfaction levels among radiation therapy educators certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and employed in programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The long form of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was mailed to 158 radiation therapy educators to measure job satisfaction. Overall job satisfaction and subscales were calculated based on MSQ methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 90 usable surveys were returned for a 56.9% response rate. With a "general satisfaction" score of 69.64, radiation therapy educators ranked in the lowest 25th percentile of the nondisabled norm scale for job satisfaction. Respondents reported higher degrees of job satisfaction on the moral values, social service and achievement subscales. Lower job satisfaction levels were associated with the company policies and practices, advancement and compensation subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiation therapy educators report low job satisfaction. Educational institutions must tailor recruitment and retention efforts to better reflect the positive aspects of being a radiation therapy educator. Furthermore, improving retention and recruitment efforts might help offset the current shortages of radiation therapy educators and, ultimately, clinical radiation therapists.
authors.affiliation: Ivy Tech State College, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Larry G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Swafford
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Legg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States