Satisfaction of Physicians Working in Polish Hospitals—A Cross-Sectional Study

Physician satisfaction is a multidimensional concept associated with numerous factors. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the satisfaction of physicians practicing in hospitals in Poland and to identify factors associated with higher levels of satisfaction. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey of Polish hospitals was conducted between March and June 2018. All doctors working in the hospitals invited to the study were asked to fill in an online survey. Fifteen hospitals were included: seven general, five specialist, and three university ones. The total number of questionnaires analyzed was 1003. The questionnaire included 17 items to measure the level of satisfaction, classified into four dimensions: personal, professional, performance, and inherent. The statistical analyses included: assessment of association between levels of career satisfaction and basic demographic and work-related variables; and multivariable logistic regressions, conducted to determine which variables were associated with higher levels of career satisfaction. The mean level of career satisfaction, on a scale from 1 to 6, was 4.1 (SD = 0.69). Respondents reported high levels of inherent satisfaction: mean = 4.4 (SD = 0.66) and a low personal satisfaction: mean = 3.78 (SD = 0.98). 56.6% of respondents reported being satisfied, but only 8.2% reported a higher level of satisfaction (≥5). The satisfaction of Polish physicians is moderate. Gender, numbers of working hours/week, years of work experience, type of hospital, and stage of professional development were the identified factors associated with higher levels of career satisfaction.