U.S. radiologists' satisfaction in their profession.

Abstract

This study identifies sources of radiologists satisfaction and dissatisfaction and effects of satisfaction on career plans.

Satisfaction at work among radiologists

“…The study based on the 2003 data, as well as confirming that satisfaction was increasing among women and young individuals and decreasing among men aged 45-54 years, associated reduced satisfaction with excessive workloads [23]. Surprisingly, this last survey revealed no correlation between radiological subspecialty and level of satisfaction [23], whereas previous surveys found satisfaction to be significantly higher among nuclear medicine physicians and radiation oncologists than among general diagnostic radiologists [20].…”

“…With the first criterion, the rates of satisfaction ranged from 42% in the first survey of 1988, to 65% in 1990 and to 51% in 1995. With the second criterion, satisfaction rates went from 97% in the earlier surveys to 93% in 2003 [19][20][21][22][23]. Using both criteria, the level of satisfaction of North American radiologists appears to be declining.…”

“…This difficulty in correctly interpreting results because of methodological differences is present in the series of North American papers by Sunshine's team [19][20][21][22][23] who interpreted the data provided by the periodical stratified sample surveys conducted by the American College of Radiology (ACR) on a large number of specialists. These surveys, in fact, do not investigate professional satisfaction explicitly, so the authors have to estimate "current satisfaction" in two ways: (a) as a positive reply as to a question on whether sull'esaurimento emozionale [7].…”

“…La difficoltà di prescindere da vincoli metodologici che spesso limitano la possibilità di interpretare correttamente i risultati è presente nella serie di pubblicazioni statunitensi del gruppo di Sunshine [19][20][21][22][23] che interpretano i dati forniti dalle periodiche indagini a campione multi-strato condotte dall'American College of Radiology (ACR) su un consistente numero di specialisti. In tali inchieste, difatti, la soddisfazione professionale non è indagata esplicitamente, e gli autori sono costretti a ricavare la "soddisfazione attuale" (current satisfaction) in due diversi modi: a) come risposta positiva alla domanda se il radiologo intervistato consiglierebbe a un giovane di studiare medicina e contemporanea risposta positiva alla domanda se raccomanderebbe la specializzazione in radiologia; b) come risposta positiva alla domanda "tenendo presenti tutti gli aspetti del tuo lavoro, cosa pensi del lavoro del radiologo?".…”

“…In the analysis based on data from the 1990s, satisfaction was higher compared with the previous 5-year period among young radiologists and women in the profession. Causes for increased satisfaction were the introduction of new technologies, better physical working conditions and organisation [20]. The studies conducted on the basis of the 1995 survey identified professional qualification and improved physical working conditions as causes of increased satisfaction, whereas the main source of decreased satisfaction, which mainly referred to men and the 45-54 age group, was uncertainty due to reorganisation of the health system [21,22].…”