Satisfaction of family physician team members in the context of contract system: A cross-sectional survey from Shandong Province, China

Abstract

BackgroundFamily physicians play a key role in responding to the growing demand for primary healthcare due to aging. The work attitude of family physician team members (FPTMs) impacts their work efficiency and quality. Knowing how satisfied they are with their jobs can help identify potential directions and entry points for incentives. The purpose of this study is to analyze the job satisfaction status and influencing factors of grassroots health service personnel after the implementation of the family physician contract system in China.MethodsThe study conducted a cross-sectional survey with 570 FPTMs in three prefecture-level cities in the Shandong Province. Satisfaction was measured using 30 items across seven dimensions. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the general information and satisfaction of FPTMs. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing job satisfaction.ResultsThe overall job satisfaction among FPTMs was not high. Among the seven dimensions, interpersonal relationships had the highest satisfaction (4.10 ± 0.78), while workload had the lowest satisfaction (3.08 ± 0.56). The satisfaction levels of the three sample regions were different, and the results were opposite to their regional economic development levels. The results of the multifactor analysis showed that gender, income level, educational background, working years, daily working hours, number of training sessions per year and the proportion of performance pay had significant impact on overall job satisfaction.ConclusionsThe development of a family physician contract system has increased the workload of FPTMs. In addition to the implementation of the new policy, attention should be paid to the workload and working attitude of family physicians. The fundamental measures should focus on attracting more personnel to work at the grassroots level by accelerating education and training to solve the problem of insufficient health personnel at the grassroots level. Simultaneously, attention should be paid to the improvement of the medical staff's salary level and the need for self-promotion, such as training.

Effects of vertical integration on the healthcare system in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A total of 66% of studies used professional integration strategies (31/47). Interprofessional partnerships among family doctor team members in primary healthcare institutions and multidisciplinary case management team members across institutions, which were based on a shared understanding of roles, responsibilities and accountability, promoted the delivery of continuous care ( Cai et al. , 2022 ).…”

A latent profile analysis of doctors’ joy in work at public hospitals

“…It can be seen that economic factors are important factors that affect doctors’ joy in work, and income is not only a basic guarantee of life for doctors but also a full expression of their self-worth, and higher income can bring more competent identification and perception. Therefore, it is necessary to increase doctors’ pay-for-performance income through a variety of effective incentives and, thus, improve the overall level of income and increase their motivation to work ( Cai et al, 2022 ).…”

Primary health care team faultlines and team performance: the mediating role of knowledge sharing

“…In healthcare, teams can utilize innovative solutions to address complex issues during the treatment process, which have the potential to enhance patient safety and efficiency ( Paulus et al, 2008 ; Arana et al, 2017 ). Due to the shift in the direction of Chinese medical reform toward “strengthening the grassroots level,” the family doctor team, acting as the contracted service provider, now assumes the role of “gatekeeper” for resident health and is being widely promoted ( Cai et al, 2022 ). Family doctor contracting services can deliver high-quality comprehensive care for the elderly, potentially enhancing the health-related quality of life for residents ( Lai et al, 2021 ; Yuan et al, 2022 ).…”