Health information technology and physician career satisfaction.
OBJECTIVE
Health information technology (HIT) and physician career satisfaction are associated with higher-quality medical care. However, the link between HIT and physician career satisfaction, which could potentially reduce provider burnout and attrition, has not been fully examined. This study uses a nationally representative survey to assess the association between key forms of HIT and career satisfaction among primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialty physicians.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of physician career satisfaction using the Community Tracking Study Physician Survey, 2004-2005. Nine specific types of HIT as well as the overall adoption of HIT in the practice were examined using multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
Physicians who used five to six (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46) or seven to nine (OR = 1.47) types of HIT were more likely than physicians who used zero to two types of HIT to be "very satisfied" with their careers. Information technology usages for communicating with other physicians (OR = 1.31) and e-mailing patients (OR = 1.35) were positively associated with career satisfaction. PCPs who used technology to write prescriptions were less likely to report career satisfaction (OR = 0.67), while specialists who wrote notes using technology were less likely to report career satisfaction (OR = 0.75).


CONCLUSIONS
Using more information technology was the strongest positive predictor of physicians being very satisfied with their careers. Toward that end, healthcare organizations working in conjunction with providers should consider exploring ways to integrate various forms of HIT into practice.
Elder
Keith T
KT
School of Health Professions, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Wiltshire
Jacqueline C
JC
Rooks
Ronica N
RN
Belue
Rhonda
R
Gary
Lisa C
LC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019468:Disease Management; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013038:Specialization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Med Care. 2006 Mar;44(3):234-42
16501394
J Gen Intern Med. 1995 Apr;10(4):199-205
7790981
J Gen Intern Med. 2000 Feb;15(2):122-8
10672116
JAMA. 2001 Dec 12;286(22):2839-44
11735759
Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2000 Dec 15;57 Suppl 4:S18-22
11148940
Am J Med. 1999 Feb;106(2):144-50
10230742
J Healthc Manag. 1999 Sep-Oct;44(5):353-65; discussion 365-6
10621139
J Occup Med. 1990 Dec;32(12):1199-206
2292739
Pediatrics. 2001 Oct;108(4):E75
11581483
J Am Med Inform Assoc. 1999 Nov-Dec;6(6):512-22
10579608
JAMA. 2005 May 18;293(19):2384-90
15900009
JAMA. 2003 Aug 20;290(7):941-6
12928472
Health Aff (Millwood). 1997 Sep-Oct;16(5):139-48
9314685
BMJ. 2001 Aug 4;323(7307):266-8
11485957
J Health Hum Serv Adm. 1999 Winter;21(3):390-412
10538673
Med Care Rev. 1984 Fall;41(3):139-79
10299831
JAMA. 2003 Jan 22-29;289(4):442-9
12533123
J Health Polit Policy Law. 2008 Dec;33(6):1133-67
19038874
Qual Saf Health Care. 2002 Dec;11(4):340-4
12468694
Arch Intern Med. 1996 Jul 22;156(14):1551-6
8687263
Ann Intern Med. 1990 Nov 1;113(9):709-14
2221652
J Gen Intern Med. 2000 Jul;15(7):441-50
10940129
Med Care. 1999 Nov;37(11):1174-82
10549620
J Am Med Inform Assoc. 1998 Nov-Dec;5(6):554-62
9824802
Arch Intern Med. 2002 Jul 22;162(14):1577-84
12123400
Milbank Q. 2008 Jun;86(2):327-58
18522615
Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2008 Mar;35(1):63-79, ix
18319129
JAMA. 2005 Jul 27;294(4):473-81
16046654
J Biomed Inform. 2005 Jun;38(3):176-88
15896691
Med Care. 1984 Jan;22(1):56-68
6694460
Data Bull (Cent Stud Health Syst Change). 2006 Jun;(31):1-4
16761355
N Engl J Med. 1990 May 24;322(21):1499-504
2186274
Med Care. 1978 Apr;16(4):337-52
651399
Health Serv Res. 2008 Apr;43(2):569-81
18484106
Ann Pharmacother. 1999 Oct;33(10):1026-31
10534212
J Fam Pract. 2002 Mar;51(3):223-8
11978232
J Fam Pract. 1993 Sep;37(3):257-63
8409877
Health Aff (Millwood). 1999 Jul-Aug;18(4):134-45
10425851
N Engl J Med. 1998 Jan 22;338(4):232-8
9435330
Health Aff (Millwood). 2000 Sep-Oct;19(5):100-11
10992657
Ann Intern Med. 1984 Jan;100(1):130-8
6691639