Survey on Emergency Medicine Specialists in Korea : Working Patterns and Level of Satisfaction

Kim, In Byung; Chung, Soon Mee; Kim, Kyung Hwan; Cho, Joon Pil

Abstract

PURPOSE: This research was to investigate and analyze the working conditions and level of satisfaction, to suggest ideal working conditions for emergency medicine specialists, and to propose a future direction for the advancement of emergency medicine.
METHODS
Among the 185 doctors who were EM board-certified from 1996 to 2000 in Korea, this survey was sent to 129 emergency medicine specialists; to those 57 answered the questionnaire. The questionnaire was made up of 17 items in the form of short answeres and descriptions. The analysis was done using the SPSS WIN program.
RESULTS
From the survey, the level of dissatisfaction was found to be higher than the level of satisfaction and the most prominent cause was the working conditions, including night duty. The most ideal working pattern sought after was an 8-hour workshift and this result did not vary with the specialists the position in the hospital. At present, night duty is not performed by most specialists, but rather extended weekend duty is. The number of specialists employed at most emergency medical centers is under 3 (81.7%). As the ideal number of specialists (more than 4 in 89.5%) is not being reached, 24-hour stationing of a specialist at an emergency medical center is not being achieved.
CONCLUSION
This survey was done in order to establish the proper working conditions and a base for improving emergency medicine itself by investigating and studying the present working conditions of emergency medicine specialists, their complaints, and their proposals for advancing of emergency medicine.