Job satisfaction among physicians providing health care to the elderly in Japan: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Physicians' job satisfaction plays an important role in service delivery. Japan is a country with a higher number of elderly people and their medical care is a crucial issue. To date, no study has been conducted on the job satisfaction of geriatricians serving the elderly in Japan. This study aims to explore the job satisfaction and motivation of physicians providing health care to the elderly working at different hospitals in Japan. METHODS: In-depth interview of 23 geriatric physicians was conducted and data were coded and analysed. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to identify the response themes. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged from the analysis and they are satisfaction as a primary care provider, career development, and suitable communication with patients. Geriatric physicians enjoy their work with inter-professional collaboration and are satisfied to provide primary health care to elderly people. Geriatrics is a very promising career to them and they enjoy the communication and empathetic doctor-patient relationship in their service. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese physicians providing health care to the elderly are enjoying their work due to a suitable environment, multi-professional collaboration, work-life balance, and patient-doctor relationship.