Occupational physicians in Israel: work structure, job and personal characteristics, and job satisfaction

This study concerns psychosocial factors among Israeli occupational physicians. Eighty-one participants (specialists, residents, and general practitioners) responded anonymously to questionnaires assessing activities demanded by the job, satisfaction from these activities, negative and positive job characteristics, job involvement, and global job satisfaction. There was little overlap between the most frequent activities (fitness for work assessments, statutory health surveillance examinations, and administrative tasks) and the activities the physicians enjoyed most (professional consultations and participation in continuing medical education (CME) activities, fitness for work assessments, and scheduled workplace visits). The most powerful predictors of job satisfaction were job involvement and satisfaction with job activities. Job involvement was related to job characteristics. The findings provide various insights for promoting job involvement and satisfaction, such as improving communication, social support, and feedback within the occupational health system and finding ways to increase quality.