Job Satisfaction Among Graduate Medical Education Trainees

Burnout among medical residents and fellows (postgraduate trainees) has been receiving significant attention in the scientific literature with far less focus on the factors that correlate with job satisfaction and well-being. A better understanding of the characteristics that increase job satisfaction (rather than just those that lead to burnout) may allow programs to develop and enhance those positive features, conceivably leading to improved mental health, retention, and recruitment. We hypothesize that job satisfaction among postgraduate trainees is positively impacted by feeling that their work is meaningful, that their work schedules are equitable, and that they are appreciated by their faculty. A cross-sectional 28-item questionnaire was sent to 613 residents and fellows in a single institution to measure multiple items with relevance to job satisfaction, happiness, well-being, meaning, and burnout. Correlative, bivariate, and multivariable regression analyses were used to assess for factors associated with these elements, and a composite summary score of them. Feeling appreciated by faculty and satisfaction with time outside of work also were associated with different elements of job satisfaction and well-being. Burnout was negatively associated with satisfaction, and, in a composite model, burnout was significantly moderated by satisfaction with opportunities for growth. The authors identified factors that correlate with job satisfaction among a representative sample of postgraduate trainees at an academic institution. These elements may be used to guide efforts to support job satisfaction and the well-being of residents and fellows.