[Occupational medicine physicians: acceptance of the professional role and motives for the choice of specialization].
BACKGROUND
The professional role of the physician embraces a relatively permanent and internally coherent system of behaviors perceived as the reaction of other people to expectations and actions related to health problems. Performing this role is the main source of income, social status and prestige. It should be stressed that the role of specialist in occupational medicine differs from that of specialists in other disciplines. Its distinctive feature is that it is not oriented towards treatment, but towards prevention.


METHODS
The study was carried out in 2006, using a questionnaire mailed to a random sample of 820 specialists in occupational medicine or industrial medicine (response rate, 35%) and conducting free interviews with 15 experts.


RESULTS
The positive response to the question whether he or she would choose again the specialization in occupational medicine was an indicator of the acceptance of the assumed professional role. The results of the survey showed that 76% of respondents were positive and only 19% would have chosen another specialization. The responses to this question were diversified by the socio-demographic factors. On the basis of this diversification two profiles were constructed, favorable and unfavorable for the acceptance of the choice made in the past. Lack of work satisfaction, poor opportunities for professional advancement, and limited financial profits were reported as the major reasons for choosing other specialization than occupational medicine. The most frequently reported motives for choosing specialization in occupational medicine were the need to meet the requirements of the occupied position, the interest in this branch of knowledge and professional skills. It was also indicated that the acceptance of the role performed by the occupational medicine physician was strongly associated with the above mentioned motives and the expected financial profits.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of specialists in occupational medicine are satisfied with the choice of their specialization. Their choice was mostly inspired by autotelic (interests) and instrumental (financial profits and meeting the job requirements) motives.
Boczkowski
Andrzej
A
Pracownia Społecznych Problemów Zdrowia, Zakład Polityki Zdrowotnej, Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera, Łódź. abocz@imp.lodz.pl
Makowska-Matuszkiewicz
Elzbieta
E
Zawadzka
Justyna
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010819:Physician's Role; D011044:Poland; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult