Analysis on the relationship between effort-reward imbalance and job satisfaction among family doctors in China: a cross-sectional study

Background Family doctor contract services was launched in Sichuan province in 2016. The focus was mainly on developing primary health care services but paying less attention to the work stress and job satisfaction of in-service family doctors. Objective This study aims to explore the influencing factors of job satisfaction, and the relation between work stress indicators and job satisfaction among family physicians. Methods An analytical online cross-sectional survey was performed among 1,105 family doctors from 23 districts and counties in Chengdu. Self-administered questionnaire was completed. Sociodemographic factors, work stress measured by Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI)scale, and job satisfaction assessed by the short Chinese version of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) were collected in this study. A statistical analysis and hierarchical linear regression analysis were performed to explore the influencing factors and the correlations among related variables. Results The overall mean MSQ score was 52.01 ± 13.23. Analysis of doctor satisfaction indicated that age, education, job rank, type of institution, years of working and monthly income were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). There were negative correlation coefficients between general job satisfaction and effort/reward ratio (ERR) ( r = -0.130, P < 0.001) and overcommitment ( r = -0.615, P < 0.001). Conclusion The level of job satisfaction among family doctors was considerable low. Age, education, job rank, type of institution, years of working and monthly income were influencing factors of job satisfaction. ERI and overcommitment had a negative correlation with general job satisfaction.