A Survey to Assess Job Satisfaction of Doctors in Bangladesh
Authors: Sadia Dr Syeda Umme 
Published: January 2025

Job satisfaction can be defined as the positive and negative emotions an employee associates with their job or the degree of happiness derived from their job (Singh, J.K., and Jain, M., 2013). Consequently, job satisfaction stands as one of the most extensively subjects in the field of organizational psychology (Spector, P.E., 1997). According to Locke (Locke, E., 1976), job satisfaction is the positive and enjoyable emotional state that results from assessing one’s job or job-related experiences. Previous studies have revealed that when an employee is content with their job, they are more likely to perform at their best to fulfill the organization’s objectives (Jalagat, R., 2016). Highly satisfied employees tend to exhibit regular attendance and punctuality, increased productivity, stronger commitment, and an overall sense of satisfaction in their lives (Lease, S.H., 1998).

In addition to a great deal of responsibility, doctors frequently deal with difficult and complex situations (World Medical Association, Inc., 2015; European Junior Doctors Association, 2016). Over the past thirty years, stress in the medical industry has been intensively examined (Cooper et al.). Occupational stress is particularly high in the dental, medical, aviation, law enforcement, mining, and social work fields (Cooper et al., 1988). The strain in medicine comes from having to care for people instead of things and from knowing how much their actions affect other people’s lives (Caplan et al., 2017). Given that mistakes can have major consequences for patients as well as doctors, doctors’ competency is routinely assessed (Payne & Firth-Cozens, 1987).

Medical professionals frequently deal with emotionally draining circumstances including patient suffering, mishaps, and mortality. When dealing with complicated events like death, doctors may find these situations extremely difficult to handle if they are not well prepared. Notably, a large percentage of physicians suffer from stress and burnout, particularly in their early training years (European Junior Doctors Association, 2016; World Medical Association, Inc., 2015). Compared to other professionals, doctors are more likely to experience burnout, particularly those in frontline care specialties (Shanafelt et al., 2012). Doctors at hospitals are more likely to become burned out than those in private practices or research institutions, according to Olkinuora’s research (Olkinuora et al., 2018).

While extensive research has explored job satisfaction across various sectors in Bangladesh, there exists a significant gap in the literature concerning physicians’ job satisfaction within the hospital setting (Chen et al., 2004). Job satisfaction among physicians is a critical aspect that directly impacts the quality of healthcare delivery and overall healthcare outcomes (Franco et al., 2002). Despite its importance, there is limited research focusing specifically on physicians’ job satisfaction within the context of hospitals in Bangladesh.

Existing studies on job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Bangladesh have primarily focused on the public sector, with limited attention given to physicians working in hospital settings, especially within the private sector. Moreover, while different studies have highlighted factors such as working hours, administrative tasks, rewards, recognition, and remuneration influencing physicians’ job satisfaction, it remains unclear whether similar factors hold true for physicians in Bangladesh (Syed Ghazaili & Daud, 2016).

Given the unique healthcare landscape in Bangladesh and the potential differences in healthcare systems compared to high-income countries, there is a need for context-specific research to understand the factors influencing physicians’ job satisfaction in Bangladesh hospitals. This research proposal aims to address this critical knowledge gap by conducting a rigorous examination of the different factors contributing to job satisfaction among physicians working in hospitals across Bangladesh.

By focusing on the unique context of healthcare in Bangladesh, this study endeavors to shed light on the specific factors that drive job satisfaction among physicians. The findings of this research will not only contribute to the limited body of knowledge on physician job satisfaction in Bangladesh but also have practical implications for healthcare management and policy development aimed at enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery in the country.