Background: Physicians need a professional environment that is conducive to
. efficient and satisfying work. Little has been published about the effect
of work structure on the satisfaction that family physicians derive from t
heir
Objectives: To assess the structure and the positive and negative job compo
nents of family physicians in Israel, as well as the effect of these compon
ents on their satisfaction with their work.
Methods: A questionnaire was sent to a random selection of members of the I
srael Society of Family Physicians (n=225).
Results: Altogether 183 questionnaires were returned. Specialist family doc
tors, practice medical directors and salaried doctors were involved in more
activities than non-specialist doctors, trainees and self-employed doctors
. satisfaction was highest for specialists and lowest non-specialists. Work
overload, insufficient resources and abundant paperwork were most frequent
ly cited as effective work components. The opportunity to utilize medical k
nowledge, challenging work and work variety scored highest as positive comp
onents.
Conclusions: The more professionally active physicians were also the more s
atisfied. Clinical work and teaching provided the most satisfaction, while
administered work and lack of time were the main causes of dissatisfaction.