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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01.10.2012 | Original Article

Job stress and job satisfaction of physicians in private practice: comparison of German and Norwegian physicians

verfasst von: Edgar Voltmer, Judith Rosta, Johannes Siegrist, Olaf G. Aasland

Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Ausgabe 7/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

This study examined job satisfaction and job stress of German compared to Norwegian physicians in private practice.

Methods

A representative sample of physicians in private practice of Schleswig–Holstein, Germany (N = 414) and a nationwide sample of Norwegian general practitioners and private practice specialists (N = 340) were surveyed in a cross-sectional design in 2010. The questionnaire comprised the standard instruments “Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS)” and a short form of the “Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI)”.

Results

Norwegian physicians scored significantly higher (<0.01) on all items of the job satisfaction scale compared to German physicians (M 5.57, SD 0.74 vs. M 4.78, SD 1.01). The effect size was highest for the items freedom to choose method (d = 1.012), rate of pay (d = 0.941), and overall job satisfaction (d = 0.931). While there was no significant difference in the mean of the overall effort scale between German and Norwegian physicians, Norwegian physicians scored significantly higher (p < 0.01) on the reward scale. A larger proportion of German physicians (27.6%) presented with an effort/reward ratio beyond 1.0, indicating a risky level of work-related stress, compared to only 10.3% of Norwegian physicians. Working hours, effort, reward, and country differences accounted for 37.4% of the explained variance of job satisfaction.

Conclusions

Job satisfaction and reward were significantly higher in Norwegian than in German physicians. An almost threefold higher proportion of German physicians exhibited a high level of work-related stress. Findings call for active prevention and health promotion among stressed practicing physicians, with a special focus on improved working conditions.

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Titel: Job stress and job satisfaction of physicians in private practice: comparison of German and Norwegian physicians
verfasst von: Edgar Voltmer
Judith Rosta
Johannes Siegrist
Olaf G. Aasland
Publikationsdatum: 01.10.2012
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Ausgabe 7/2012
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0725-5

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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