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. 2019 Oct 20;20(1):139.
doi: 10.1186/s12875-019-1030-8.

Family medicine vocational training and career satisfaction in Hong Kong

K P Lee  1 , C Wong  2 , D Chan  1 , K Kung  1 , L Luk  1 , M C S Wong  1 , D Chao  3 , V Leung  3 , C W Chan  3 , W Ko  3 , T F Leung  3 , Y H Chan  3 , H T Fung  3 , M K Lee  3 , S Y S Wong  1
Affiliations

Family medicine vocational training and career satisfaction in Hong Kong

K P Lee et al. BMC Fam Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Postgraduate vocational training in family medicine (FM) is essential for physicians to build capacity and develop quality primary care. Inadequate standards in training and curriculum development can contribute to poor recruitment and retention of doctors in primary care. This study aimed to investigate: 1) the satisfaction level of doctors regarding vocational training in family medicine and associated demographics; and 2) the satisfaction level of doctors regarding their family medicine career and associated factors.

Method: This is a cross sectional study of all family medicine physicians across all government-funded primary care clinics (GOPCs). The study questionnaire consisted of items from a standardized and validated physician survey named the Physician Worklife Survey (PWS) (Konrad et al., Med Care, 1999). We selected three scales (7 items) relating to global job satisfaction, global career satisfaction and global specialty (family medicine) satisfaction with additional items on training and demographics. All significant variables in bivariate analyses were further examined using stepwise logistic regression.

Results: Out of 424 eligible family medicine physicians, 368 physicians successfully completed the questionnaire. The response rate was 86.8%. Most participants were male (52.6%), were aged between 35 and 44 years (55.5%), were FM specialists (42.4%), graduated locally (86.2%), and had postgraduate qualifications. Eighty-two percent (82%) of participants were satisfied with their training. Having autonomy and protected time for training were associated with satisfaction with FM training. Satisfaction with family medicine as a career was correlated with physicians' satisfaction with their current job. Doctors who did not enroll in training (p < 0.001) and physicians who were older (p = 0.023) were significantly less satisfied. Stepwise multivariate regression showed that doctors who subjectively believed their training as "broad and in depth' had higher career satisfaction (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Overall, the satisfaction level of physicians on current family medicine training in Hong Kong was high. Having autonomy and protected time for training is associated with higher training satisfaction levels. Perceiving FM training as "broad and in-depth" is associated with higher family medicine career satisfaction.

Keywords: Career satisfaction; Doctors’ satisfaction level; Family medicine training; Job satisfaction; Vocational training.

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Conflict of interest statement

Samuel Yeung Shan Wong is a member of the editorial board (Associate Editor) of BMC Family Practice. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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