Job Stress, Job Satisfaction and Occupational Commitment Among Korean Emergency Physicians

Kim, Jong Kun; Kim, Yun Jeong; Seo, Kang Suk; Ryoo, Hyun Wook; Kam, Sin; Park, Jae Yong; Lee, Sung Kuk; Lee, Won Kee; Kang, Yun Sik; Park, Kee Sue

Abstract

PURPOSE
Recent reports suggest that many professionals, including emergency physicians, suffer from job stress and psychosocial stress. Emergency physicians also report a high premature attrition rate. Our goal was to investigate the levels of job and psychosocial stress and the relationship between these stresses and abandonment of their own specialty.
METHODS
Data was collected using a cross-sectional mail survey with a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included 49 questions in scales relating to job stress, job satisfaction and plans for their remaining years in their specialty. Three hundred and forty-two emergency physicians participated in this study and completed the questionnaire
RESULTS
Among the 342 questionnaires, 132(48.4%) were returned. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences in job stress and psychosocial stress between academic emergency physicians and clinical emergency physicians. The average scores for job stress, job satisfaction and psychosocial stress among emergency physicians were, respectively, 3.35+/-0.57, 2.93+/-0.50 and 2.33+/-0.78. Mean levels of job stress and psychosocial stress were higher among academic emergency physicians. Job satisfaction and occupational commitment were also higher among academic emergency physicians. Variables such as patient load, working hours per week, and night shifts proved unimportant. Of clinical emergency physicians, 54% planned on leaving their specialty within ten years.
CONCLUSION
Job stress and psycosocial stress of academic emergency physicians were higher, but job satisfaction and occupational commitment were higher. Job stress and psycosocial stress of clinical emergency physicians were lower, but premature attrition rate were higher.