title: Assessing the relation between career satisfaction in psychiatry with lifelong learning and scientific activity.
abstract: Lifelong learning (LLL) is an essential feature for the doctor to keep clinically updated and has been described as an indicator of competence and professionalism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between career satisfaction in psychiatry, lifelong learning, and commitment in scientific activities, taking into account other personal and professional effects. The survey was sent to 453 national psychiatrists and 190 surveys (41.9%) were completed online and validated. The Jefferson Scale of Physician Lifelong Learning (JSPLL) was used to assess the level of LLL for each doctor. The results of the analysis of JSPLL showed that participants more satisfied with their career have greater motivation and invest more in the LLL. Furthermore, participants who were more satisfied with their career had a higher percentage of scientific activity in the last year. Multiple linear regression with these two effects in the model revealed a positive association between career satisfaction in psychiatry, LLL and the publication of scientific papers, leading to the main conclusion that satisfaction with a career in psychiatry has a significant correlation with LLL and with involvement in scientific activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: pedromafonso@netcabo.pt.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.affiliation: Center of Mathematics and Fundamental Applications, University of Lisbon, Portugal; Universidade Aberta, Distance learning University, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Rosário
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Hospital Centre of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saraiva
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Hospital Centre of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cátia Alves
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Luísa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Figueira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011570:Psychiatry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Career satisfaction; Jefferson scale of physician lifelong learning; Lifelong learning; Psychiatry