Emergency physician job satisfaction in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to understand emergency physicians' (EP) relative satisfaction with different facets of their job and their impact on EPs' intention to quit their current job. We also investigated the frequency and intensity of different stress factors on EPs. Method: Data were collected by questionnaires distributed to 320 EPs working in emergency department (ED) of the public hospitals in Hong Kong. Satisfaction levels to nine facets of job (autonomy, personal time, relationship with patients, patient management, relationship with fellow physicians, relationship with nursing staff, income, administration, and resources), and three global measures (global job satisfaction, specialty satisfaction and training opportunity satisfaction) were determined. Physician's intention to quit their present job was also assessed. Descriptive and correlation coefficients were used to explore the satisfaction levels to different facets of job and their association with EP's turnover intention. Results: A total of 103 questionnaires were analysed, of which 77.7% were male. Overall, the satisfaction levels across the 9 facets and the 3 global measures were moderate. The job facets which respondents found most satisfied were the 'relation with other physicians' (mean=3.62, SD=0.67). The job facet that respondents found least satisfied was the 'patient care issues' (mean=2.02, SD=0.58). 'Negative publicity in media' was the most stressful factor to EPs. 36.89% of the respondents indicated a "moderate", "likely", or "definite" chance of leaving current ED. There was statistically significant correlation between the intention to leave EDs and EP's satisfaction levels to 'personal time', 'relationship with physician colleague', 'relationship with nursing staff', 'income', 'administration', 'resources', 'global job satisfaction' and emergency medicine (EM) specialty. Conclusion: This study reveals that EPs working in public hospital in Hong Kong are moderately satisfied with their jobs. EPs' global job satisfaction levels and their satisfaction levels to EM specialty correlate with their intention to leave their EDs.