Premium
Nigerian resident doctors on strike: insights from and policy implications of job satisfaction among resident doctors in a Nigerian teaching hospital
Author(s) -
Akinyemi Oluwaseun,
Atilola Olayinka
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the international journal of health planning and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1099-1751
pISSN - 0749-6753
DOI - 10.1002/hpm.2141
Subject(s) - job satisfaction , autonomy , government (linguistics) , job security , health care , nursing , psychology , medicine , family medicine , medical education , political science , economic growth , social psychology , economics , engineering , work (physics) , mechanical engineering , linguistics , philosophy , law
SUMMARY Objectives The Nigerian health system has been engulfed in a crisis occasioned by a deluge of strike actions by resident doctors in recent times. Dissatisfaction with conditions of service has been cited as the bone of contention. Job satisfaction studies among doctors have provided insights into the contributory factors to recurrent industrial disputes in other climes. This study aims to determine the predictors of job satisfaction among resident doctors in a tertiary healthcare centre in Nigeria. This is with a view to gain some insights into the possible contributory factors to industrial disputes and to discuss the policy implications of such findings. Methods A semi‐structured questionnaire was used to obtain socio‐demographic characteristics and job‐related determinants of job satisfaction among resident doctors. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine predictors of job satisfaction. Findings A total of 163 resident doctors completed the study. Overall, 90 (55.2%) of the resident doctors were satisfied with their jobs. Lower age, career advancement opportunities, autonomy of practice, alignment of job with core personal and professional values, and working environment predicted job satisfaction. Conclusions To restore satisfaction and possibly stem industrial disputes by resident doctors, government of Nigeria needs to sustain current wages while introducing non‐financial benefits. There is a need to adopt policies geared towards increasing government spending on health especially in the area of human capacity and infrastructural development, so as to afford resident doctors opportunities for skill acquisition and career development. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.