GEO, 86% of Australian doctors report high rates of job satisfaction - see why
More than 80% of Australian doctors are moderately or very satisfied with their jobs, a national survey has found.
The survey, of 10?498 doctors, 19% of those who were contacted and eligible, found that 86% were moderately or very satisfied with their jobs, with no significant differences between GPs, specialists, and specialists in training. Hospital non-specialists were less satisfied.
The predictors of high professional satisfaction included:
- a good support network - a household with a high income - patients with realistic expectations w - being able to take time off - being younger or close to retirement - having good self reported health.
Female GPs earn an average 25% less than their male counterparts and that GPs on average earn 32% less than specialists. The average annual pretax personal earnings of GPs and specialists were $US 180?000 and $US 316?570, respectively.
With Australia in the throes of national health reform, the researchers said that their findings set an important baseline for examining the effects of policy changes on doctors’ job satisfaction.
The survey was conducted between June and November 2008, before the Australian government announced its national health reform agenda.
The survey findings were published in the 3 January edition of the Medical Journal of Australia.