Motivation to work and attitudes towards retirement among physicians.

BACKGROUND: The healthcare system is currently in a state of tension due to a shortage of physicians, the early retirement of health care professionals and an increasing need for care within an (aging) society. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine physicians' attitudes towards retirement and possible influencing factors on their motivation to work. METHOD: Data were collected as part of a baseline survey of a long-term study. The sample includes a variety of physicians (n = 625), working in outpatient or inpatient care, who have not yet reached the retirement age of 67. The primary outcome was to survey attitudes towards retirement using the Motivation to Work scale. Work-related characteristics (e.g., with regard to contract or working hour) as well as job satisfaction, overall health, and burnout were also included in the analyses (correlations and linear regression models). RESULTS: According to the results, sociodemographic characteristics are not significantly related to motivation to work, whereas the other parameters (satisfaction, health, and burnout) influence attitudes towards retirement significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The results underline the need to improve the occupational conditions of physicians across different medical settings. More research is needed to understand physicians' decision-making with regard to retirement, especially in terms of work-related characteristics and differences.

[Views on Retirement by General Practitioners]. / Renteneintrittswünsche und mögliche Determinanten bei Hausärztinnen und Hausärzten.

EINLEITUNG: In Hinblick auf den immer größer werdenden Ärztemangel und gleichzeitig steigenden Versorgungsbedarf in der Allgemeinbevölkerung war das Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung, ein detailliertes Bild über Renteneintrittswünsche der aktiven Hausärztinnen und Hausärzte (N=143) zu erfassen. METHODE: Die Daten wurden im Rahmen einer Baseline-Befragung einer Langzeitstudie erhoben (repräsentative Ärztebefragung). Es wurde untersucht, inwiefern soziodemographische als auch berufsbezogene Variablen mit einem vorzeitigen bzw. späteren Renteneintritt in Zusammenhang gebracht werden können und welche Gründe für eine ärztliche Tätigkeit über das Rentenalter hinaus sprechen. ERGEBNISSE: Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Hälfte der Befragten zwischen 29 und 66 Jahren vorzeitig in den Ruhestand gehen möchte und diese Entscheidung vor allem von Familienstand, aber auch von Arbeitszufriedenheit und Arbeitsbelastung abhängig ist. Zu den Gründen, die für einen späteren Eintritt sprechen, zählen "Freude an der Arbeit", "sich nützlich und gebraucht fühlen" und ein allgemein "berufliches Interesse". SCHLUSSFOLGERUNG: Renteneintrittswünsche sollten bei der zukünftigen Planung der Versorgung berücksichtigt werden, um Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, die einem ungewollten oder vorzeitigen Ausstieg der Mediziner aus der Versorgung entgegenwirken. BACKGROUND: There is a steadily increasing shortage of doctors and simultaneously an increasing need for health care of the general population. The aim of the present survey was to investigate retirement planning by family doctors (n=143). METHOD: Data was collected as part of a baseline survey (longitudinal design, representative sample of physicians). Possible association between socio-demographic and occupation-related variables with early or later retirement was investigated and also why some physicians may consider continuing in their profession beyond retirement age. RESULTS: The results showed that half of the respondents between 29 and 66 of age would like to retire early and that this decision depended primarily on marital status, but also on job satisfaction and workload. Reasons for late retirement were "enjoying work", "feeling useful and needed" and general "professional interest". CONCLUSION: The results indicate that retirement wishes of GPs must be taken into account in the future planning of health care and that measures should be taken to counteract their early retirement from professional activity.

[Self-governance from the perspective of the chamber of physicians]. / Selbstverwaltung aus Sicht der Ärztekammer.

The self-government of physicians in Germany is an enormous privilege for the profession. The core tasks of medical associations are the design of the professional framework, specialist and continuing education, and quality assurance. A look at history reveals important developments within the profession and its changing relationships with politics and also the different systems of government and constantly changing professional policy orientations, which are continuously changing and must be permanently shaped by the medical profession. In particular, the relationship to health insurance companies, to the economy, and to politics should be mentioned here. What is new, on the other hand, are the changing expectations in the medical profession, the shortage of skilled workers, management and care structures, and new types of ownership, for example, in centers providing medical care. The basic ethical code of physicians-scientific knowledge, experience, personal attitude, and human compassion-continue to be of utmost importance. Taking into account the rapid developments within modern medicine and the increasing expectations of society, additional qualifications that go beyond the historically traditional characteristics of the "good physician" are needed today and in the future. These new demands complement and deepen the relationship between patients, society, and the medical profession. In order to practice personalized medicine, the profession needs to be free from all sociopolitical directives.

The work-life balance of general practitioners as a predictor of burnout and motivation to stay in the profession.

BACKGROUND: Work-life balance (WLB) is associated with a variety of health-related outcomes in the general population. Since General Practitioners (GPs) play a fundamental role in the health system, we wanted to analyze the associations between their WLB and burnout scores as well as motivation to stay in the profession. METHODS: In September 2019, physicians from various specialties answered a comprehensive questionnaire. We analyzed a subsample of 188 GPs that were working full time, 61.7% were female. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed a beneficial association between WLB and all three dimensions of burnout (Emotional Exhaustion, Cynicism, and Professional Efficacy) as well as the motivation to stay in the profession. CONCLUSIONS: Improving GPs WLB could be a way to reduce physician burnout, strengthen the healthcare system, and attract a new generation of talented physicians.

It's about time - Associations between working time dimensions and well-being of physicians.

Several working time characteristics have been linked to negative outcomes for health personnel. The aim was to investigate the impact of working time dimensions on well-being in a representative sample of physicians. Data was collected during a baseline study. Linear regression analysis was performed on a sample including 669 physicians of different medical specialties. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and information on working time dimensions (e.g. shift work). In addition, job satisfaction, workload and self-reported health were explored. The majority were female, working in internal medicine and the mean age was 42.5 years. Findings reveal that overtime hours (ß = -0.478, p = .011) and autonomy (ß = 0.444, p < .001) were significantly associated with job satisfaction. The number of free weekends (ß = -2.622, p = .005) and autonomy significantly predicted personal (ß = -6.153, p < .001), work-related (ß = -6.597, p < .001) and patient-related workload (ß = -4.731, p < .001). Overall health was only affected by working time autonomy (ß = 3.804, p < .001). In conclusion, the study suggests that working time characteristics have negative consequences for well-being and need to be addressed to ensure health, performance and safety of physicians.

Comparing burnout and work-life balance among specialists in internal medicine: the role of inpatient vs. outpatient workplace.

BACKGROUND: Compared to the general population, physicians are more likely to experience increased burnout and lowered work-life balance. In our article, we want to analyze whether the workplace of a physician is associated with these outcomes. METHODS: In September 2019, physicians from various specialties answered a comprehensive questionnaire. We analyzed a subsample of 183 internists that were working full time, 51.4% were female. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that internists working in an outpatient setting exhibit significantly higher WLB and more favorable scores on all three burnout dimensions. In the regression analysis, hospital-based physicians exhibited higher exhaustion, cynicism and total burnout score as well as lower WLB. CONCLUSIONS: Physician working at hospitals exhibit less favorable outcomes compared to their colleagues in outpatient settings. This could be a consequence of workplace-specific factors that could be targeted by interventions to improve physician mental health and subsequent patient care.

Burnout and work-life balance among physicians: the role of migration background.

BACKGROUND: We want to analyze the effect of migration background (MB) on physician burnout and work-life balance. METHODS: In September 2019, physicians from various specialties answered a questionnaire on work and health. We analyzed a subsample of 526 physicians that were working full time in a hospital, 14% with an MB and 47.9% were female. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that physicians with an MB exhibit significantly less favorable scores on all three burnout dimensions, and this effect persisted in the regression analysis after adding age, gender, and marital status as control variables. There were no differences with regard to work-life balance. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, our study is the first one to suggest that MB plays a significant role in physician mental health. Future research will benefit from identifying the factors behind that connection, e.g., problems related to acculturation, communication and social integration, which can then be addressed by policymakers in order to maintain and improve the medical infrastructure.