Determinants of physicians and nurses’ professional satisfaction at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract

The research addressed the factors affecting physicians’ and nurses’ professional satisfaction and implications for patient care at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya. A descriptive quantitative research design was used. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that was administered to a stratified sample of 82 Physicians and 220 Nurses. All the completed questionnaires were entered into IBM SPSS 21.0 statistical software and data analysed for descriptive statistics. The results were presented in tables and figures. The study was powered to 95% confidence interval. From the study findings it was deduced that most of the respondents were satisfied with the assessed factors that influenced their professional satisfaction. The factors can be classified as either intrinsic or extrinsic. These intrinsic factors included achievement, recognition, autonomy and advancement. Extrinsic factors include interpersonal relations, working conditions/workload and compensation. The study concluded that the factors that influence physicians and nurses’ professional satisfaction include workload, compensation (salary/pay), working conditions, supervisors’ role, physicians-nurses’ relationship, career advancement and autonomy. Overall, the results clearly indicate the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in influencing physicians’ and nurses’ professional satisfaction. The study recommends focused efforts towards improving both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence physicians’ and nurses’ professional satisfaction in order to translate to improved patient care. Healthcare systems need to mainstream organizational structure in order to facilitate patient care through consultative processes with physicians and nurses. The need for interdepartmental support and strengthened working relationships between physicians and nurses in healthcare environment is an important strategy to influencing satisfaction.