Inequality in Pay Ranks Among Factors Impacting Job Satisfaction Among Female Physicians

Abstract

Job satisfaction has fallen among doctors, and beyond lack of pay parity that averages 25%, female physician job satisfiers differ from male colleagues. Health systems can build upon female physicians' confidence in their abilities to communicate with patients, show empathy, build trust, and elicit patient compliance with treatment plans. Systems must attend to work conditions for young and female cohorts, thereby retaining half of the workforce offering critical care to 7.8 billion people. Ordinal logistic regression was used to analyze data gathered in the U.S. by the Center for Studying Health System Change. Data were used to build a predictive statistical model in concert with independent variables linked to generational and job satisfaction literature. This study revealed statistically significant correlations between factors not only by gender, but also by generational membership. Statistically significant factors affecting job satisfaction among female physicians include provision of quality care to all patients, adequate time spent with patients and income.