DIFFERENCES IN THE PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION OF GENERAL INTERNISTS INACADEMICALLY AFFILIATED PRACTICES IN THE GREATER-BOSTON AREA

Managed care has created more professional constraints for general int ernists. We surveyed 198 general internists at 12 academically affilia ted practices in the greater-Boston area to examine professional satis faction. Overall, these physicians were moderately satisfied (mean of 59.1 on a 100-point scale). Before adjustment, women had lower overall satisfaction than men, as well as poorer satisfaction with the domain s of career concerns and patient access. Gender had no independent eff ect on satisfaction after adjustment for age, income, percentage of ti me providing direct patient care, work status, and site. Younger physi cians also had lower overall satisfaction, and these differences remai ned after adjustment. Improvements in professional satisfaction may be required to ensure the continued recruitment of young physicians, par ticularly women, into general internal medicine.