Professional satisfaction of physicians

Nineteen physicians were interviewed to identify how they defined and solved the problems facing their profession. Problems cited by the physicians included loss of control over medical decisions, loss of control of the referral process, the threat of malpractice suits, ethical issues facing health maintenance organization physicians, and reduction of income. The attitudes and problem-solving approaches of physicians who remained satisfied with their profession are presented and compared with those of physicians who are essentially dissatisfied with the practice of medicine. Among satisfied physicians, happiness in medicine was attributed more to attitudinal adjustments than to success at the "business of medicine."