oa Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction Among Primary Health Care Physicians in Qatar

Occupational stressors associated with compromised job satisfaction amongst general practitioners (e.g. time constraints, burdensome patient loads and interruptions in personal life) have been found to adversely affect the quality of primary health care services.

A cross-sectional survey of 128 physicians in 22 pri-mary health care centers in Qatar used a self-administered questionnaire on factors associated with job satisfaction. Most physicians reported time pressures attributable to large patient loads that appeared to affect the quality of work and personal life. Younger and female physicians reported frustration at not having time to read about new research and advances.

Methods of addressing these problems, such as an appointment system, were favorably received by most physicians. Strategies to reduce occupational stress on most of the physicians may involve allowing them greater control over their work environment and providing time for Continuing Medical Education and postgraduate studies. This, in turn, should lead to improved primary health care.