An empirical investigation of factors influencing career satisfaction of primary care physicians.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence career satisfaction of 3 types of primary care physicians (PCPs): internal medicine (IM) physicians, family/general medicine (FGM) physicians, and pediatricians.


METHODS
This was a secondary analysis of the Center for Studying Health System Change's 2008 Health Tracking Physician Survey. Regression analysis was done to examine the impact of environmental-, practice quality-, compensation-, and demographic-related factors on career satisfaction of IM physicians (n = 504), FGM physicians (n = 693), and pediatricians (n = 363).


RESULTS
Nineteen percent of PCPs have been practicing for ≥30 years. Pediatricians had the highest career satisfaction. Although the threat of malpractice lawsuits significantly lowered career satisfaction (β = -0.177, -0.153, and -0.146), patient interaction (β = 0.242, 0.321, and 0.346) and income (β = 0.132, 0.151, and 0.170) significantly increased career satisfaction of IM physicians, FGM physicians, and pediatricians, respectively. Ownership significantly lowered career satisfaction of IM physicians and pediatricians (β = -0.168 and -0.114, respectively). Inadequate quality care significantly lowered career satisfaction of pediatricians (β = -0.102). The 3 regression models accounted for only 16% (IM physicians), 17% (FGM physicians), and 21% (pediatricians) of the variance in career satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Steps like giving adequate time for interaction with patients, reducing potential threats of malpractice lawsuits, and improving income may increase PCPs' career satisfaction.
Departments of Management, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5429, USA. satish.deshpande@wmich.edu
Satish P
SP
Deshpande
Jim
J
Demello
D003625:Data Collection; D036262:Empirical Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States