A survey of the perception of well-being among emergency physicians in Taiwan

The objective of this study is to investigate the feelings (well-being) of emergency physicians in Taiwan regarding their job and the relationship between these feelings and the work environment.

A questionnaire was used to survey emergency physicians across Taiwan from January to June 2014. The questionnaire contents were categorized into five specific factors that could affect well-being, including "emergency quality, emergency safety, support environment, workload, and salary and benefits." Well-being was rated directly on a scale of 1-10, with 10 indicating the highest level of happiness. Physician retention was also surveyed. The correlations among the five factors, well-being, and physician retention were analyzed. The five factors were quantified as a "happiness index" and compared between religious and nonreligious hospitals and medical centers and regional hospitals.

A total of 398 questionnaires were received, and the response rate was 39%. Of these, 42.7% of responders reported high ratings for well-being (scores of 7-10, 1 is the worse, and 10 is the best) and 40.3% felt neutral (scores of 5-6). Only 12.3% doctors did not think they would stay at the same position for the next 3 years. All five factors had moderately significant correlations with each other (γ = 0.195-0.534, P < 0.01). All five factors also significantly correlated with well-being. Emergency safety (γ = 0.121, P < 0.05), salary and benefits (γ = 0.143, P < 0.05), and well-being (γ = 0.189, P < 0.01) were correlated with physician retention. The happiness indices of emergency quality, support environment, and workload were significantly higher in regional hospitals than medical centers.

All five indicators had impacts on well-being. The respondents reported heavy workloads, including high stress and even poorly met physiological needs. In addition, the threat of violence, salaries, and well-being correlated with physician retention. Hospital administrators can make efforts to improve the well-being of doctors and physician retention by adjusting environmental factors.