Job and life satisfaction among emergency physicians: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Occupational Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Emergency physicians experience high rates of burnout.
• Factors contributing to burnout include age, institutional support, and electronic medical records (EMR).
• Limited research exists on factors contributing to career and life satisfaction in this group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify characteristics of emergency physicians satisfied with their careers and personal lives.
• To propose a model for physician well-being.
• To inform strategies for improving physician satisfaction and reducing burnout.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using non-structured interviews with open-ended questions.
• Physicians recruited via email and peer referral (June-September 2020).
• Inclusion criteria: job/life satisfaction, no burnout.

Main Results:

• Twenty-three physicians participated (mean age 45.4, 73.9% male).
• Satisfied physicians were resilient, socially connected, and had outside interests.
• Key threats to well-being included ineffective leadership and EMR.

Conclusions:

• Physician well-being is linked to personal resilience, social connections, and diverse interests.
• Addressing leadership and EMR challenges is crucial.
• Promoting these qualities may enhance satisfaction and reduce burnout in emergency medicine.