Satisfaction at work among radiologists.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging and Radiology
• Occupational Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Professional satisfaction is crucial for healthcare professionals' well-being and performance.
• Understanding job satisfaction drivers in radiology is essential for improving retention and work environments.
• Previous studies have explored job satisfaction in various medical fields, but specific insights for Italian radiologists are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the professional satisfaction levels of Italian radiologists.
• To identify personal characteristics and work-related factors influencing job satisfaction among radiologists.
• To compare job satisfaction in radiologists with that of radiotherapists and infectious disease specialists.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted using Warr et al.'s 17-item Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS).
• The study included 206 diagnostic radiologists, 108 radiotherapists, and 34 infectious disease specialists as controls.
• Statistical analysis, including stepwise logistic regression, was employed to identify significant factors.

Main Results:

• Only 49% of diagnostic radiologists reported job satisfaction, significantly lower than radiotherapists (64%) and controls (62%).
• Factors negatively impacting satisfaction included being middle-aged, early in career, and female (regarding recognition, variety, workload).
• Job satisfaction was significantly associated with physical working conditions, autonomy, supervisor relationships, input consideration, and job variety.

Conclusions:

• This pilot study highlights specific sources of professional dissatisfaction among Italian radiologists.
• Findings suggest a need for targeted interventions to improve radiologists' work environments and job satisfaction.
• A larger, stratified random sample survey of Italian radiologists is recommended for future research.