[Salary and clinical productivity among physicians in Norwegian somatic hospitals 2001-2008].
BACKGROUND
Analysis of the future need for medical doctors necessitates an assessment of their productivity. The goals of this study were to analyze the relation between doctors' work force and the increased activity in hospitals, and to describe the development of working hours and salary for hospital doctors in a gender perspective.


METHODS
Information about man-labour years, working time and salary for doctors in Norwegian somatic hospitals was retrieved for the period 2001-2008. Number of hospital stays, DRG points and outpatient consultations per man-labour year are used as measures of doctors' clinical productivity.


RESULTS
The percentage of female doctors increased from 34.7 % to 42.2 %. The mean annual salary increased more for men (14.4 % higher in 2001 and 16.6 % higher in 2008) than women. Total salary costs for doctors increased by 69.9 % (from 3.66 bill to 6.22 bill. NOK); 42.6 % of this increase was generated by new positions (1 306 man-labour years, + 21.2 %). Labour years from extended working hours increased by 6.8 % (constituting 1043 labour years in 2008; 12.2 % of the total), but the average extended labour time per doctor decreased (-16.7 % for women and -9.6 % for men). The number of hospital stays increased by 13.2 %, DRG points increased by 12.4 % and outpatient consultations increased by 9.3 % per doctor's work year in the period 2001-2008.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher salaries for men may be explained by age, more men in senior positions and longer working hours than for women. The productivity of Norwegian doctors still increased from 2001 to 2008 (taking into account the increase in salary).
Johannessen
Karl-Arne
KA
Arbeidsgiverforeningen Spekter, Kronprinsesse Märthas plass 1, 0115 Oslo, Norway. karl-arne.johannessen@spekter.no
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004526:Efficiency; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006739:Hospital Administration; D020445:Hospitalists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D008486:Physician Executives / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012737:Sex Factors; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data