Job stress and satisfaction in southwest Chinese hospitals: A cross-sectional study

This paper discusses the job characteristics, satisfaction, and stress levels experienced by clinical neurologists in Guizhou Province, China. A questionnaire survey was conducted associated with the 2021 Annual Meeting of Neurology in Guizhou province. After obtaining ethical approval to conduct the study, the target group was asked to complete an anonymous online survey that included sociodemographic data, followed by questions related to job stress and satisfaction as well as future aspirations. Four hundred sixty people participated in the study, including 179 (38.9%) men and 281 (61.1%) women. About 407 (88.5%) felt stress in their job. Three hundred and seventeen (68.9%) experienced depression, 307 (66.7%) experienced anxiety, and 273 (59.3%) had some degree of sleep disturbance. Three hundred fifty-three (76.7%) were disappointed with their wages, 239 (52.0%) were bored with their jobs, and 353 (76.7%) considered their jobs to be somewhat dangerous. Interestingly, 250 (54.3%) would consider becoming doctors again, but 354 (77.0%) preferred their child not to become doctors. While 338 (73.5%) said they were proud to be a neurologist, only 123 (26.7%) indicated they were optimistic concerning doctor-patient relationships. Neurologists have significant emotional factors associated with their careers, which are more likely to lead to job burnout and decreased job satisfaction. Attention should be paid to these stresses to improve the retention and job satisfaction of neurologists.