Career Satisfaction and Burnout Among Ghanaian Physicians

Document Type

Presentation

Presentation Date

6-1-2013

Abstract or Description

Research Objective: The relationship between job/career satisfaction and burnout has been widely examined in the existing literature within the context of developed nations. However, these relationships have received less attention in developing nations, particularly in the healthcare setting. This study therefore aims to fill this gap in the existing health services literature by assessing the degree of career satisfaction and burnout among physicians practicing in a low resource setting and examining the relationships between burnout and career satisfaction.

Study Design: The study design was a crosssectional correlational study design. Data was obtained from an ongoing online survey of practicing physicians in Ghana. Preliminary findings are reported for a sample of 182 physicians responding to the survey between December 2012 and January 2012. Modified forms of the physician work life study survey and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were used to assess burnout and career satisfaction. Exploratory factor analyses and measures of internal consistency were used to evaluate the instrument’s validity and reliability. Other demographic and practice characteristics examined included gender, age, number of working hours per week, professional status (house officer/medical officer/resident/specialist/consultant, geographical location of practice (rural/urban) and employer (private/government) and contentment with compensation. Multivariate linear regression models with stepwise selection were used to assess the independent relationships between burnout and the various dimensions of career satisfaction.

Population Studied: The study population included 182 active physicians in Ghana, West Africa.

Principal Findings: Factor analyses yielded one dimension of burnout (number of survey items [k] =7; Cronbach's alpha [a] = 0.71) and four dimensions of physician career satisfaction: satisfaction with professional relationships (k=6; a = 0.76), satisfaction with resources (k=4; a = 0.72), satisfaction with work-family life balance (k=3; a = 0.72) and finally global career satisfaction (k=5; a = 0.82). On a 5-point scale, physicians reported satisfaction with their overall career (mean = 3.6) and professional relationships (mean = 4.0) and dissatisfaction with resource availability (mean = 2.1) and worklife balance (mean = 2.5). The reported level of burnout was also low (mean = 2.3 on a 5-point scale). Burnout was negatively associated with all four dimensions of physician career satisfaction after adjusting for various demographic and practice characteristics.

Conclusions: Physicians in Ghana are dissatisfied with the work-life balance as well as the lack of resources and supplies needed to effectively care for their patients. High levels of burnout was associated with lower career satisfaction among physicians in Ghana.

Implications for Policy, Delivery, or Practice: Health policies should focus on improving working conditions and enhancing physician work-life balance. Efforts aimed at improving working conditions may help in reducing or preventing burnout and consequently improving career satisfaction among active physicians in Ghana

Sponsorship/Conference/Institution

Academy Health Annual Research Meeting (ARM)

Location

Baltimore, MD

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