Predictors of Job Satisfaction among Resident Doctors at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Article Info Background: Nigeria is witnessing a significant brain drain of trained doctors, especially among trainee doctors, who emmigrate to high-income countries. Low job satisfaction is a key factor driving this exodus, yet there is a paucity of research on this issue among resident doctors in Nigeria. This study aims to investigate job satisfaction and its predictors among resident doctors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Materials and Method: The study was a cross-sectional observational survey involving 176 trainee doctors across 16 medical specialties/subspecialties using a total sampling method between October 2020 and January 2021. A pre-designed questionnaire and a Generic Job Satisfaction Scale (GJSS) were used to collect data. A multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictor variables influencing job satisfaction. Results: The mean age of respondents was 35.10 (SD 4.07). 47.7% of resident doctors had low job satisfaction. Residents with perceived stressful job environment (OR= 2.390, 95% CI [1.135-5.034]) and those who experienced work-related stress (OR= 2.221, 95% CI [1.134-4.351]) had higher odds of low job satisfaction, while those who reported reasonable satisfaction with colleagues relationship (OR = 0.234, 95% CI [0.080-0.684]) and income satisfaction (OR = 0.469, 95% CI [0.239-0.922]) had lower odds of dissatisfaction with their jobs. Conclusion: The results of this study show that close to half of the respondents were dissatisfied with their jobs. Therefore, the government and other health policymakers must address the extrinsic factors identified to stem the tide of brain drain among Nigerian resident doctors.