Satisfaction of Family Physicians Working in Community Health Centers

Abstract

Title: Satisfaction of Family Physicians Working in Community Health Centers Context: Community Health Centers (CHCs) receive $2.9 billion in federal funding to provide primary care to 20 million people annually, and these numbers are increasing. Understanding of physician satisfaction in CHCs may help guide recruitment and retention efforts aimed at expanding CHC programs. Objective: Contrast satisfaction of family physicians working in CHCs to satisfaction of family physicians working in other practice settings. Methods: Analysis of four cross-sectional surveys of recent residency graduates from the WWAMI Family Medicine Residency Network. Surveys conducted approximately every three years, 2000-2010. Main outcome measures: Self-reported satisfaction with residency training, practice and specialty on a 1=low to 5=high scale. Results: 893 family physician respondents (response rate 61%). 129 CHC physicians and 764 non-CHC physicians. Compared to non-CHC physicians, higher proportions of CHC physicians reported being highly satisfied with their residency training (79% vs. 61%, p<0.01) and choice of specialty (74% vs. 60%, p<0.01). In contrast lower proportions of CHC physicians were highly satisfied with their employers (32% vs. 39%, p=0.05). There were no differences in satisfaction with practice partners, income, practice location, or work hours. After adjustment for physician, practice and community characteristics, CHC physicians were more likely to be highly satisfied with their residency training (OR 2.6, p=0.001) and their choice of specialty (OR 1.7, p=0.03). CHC physicians were less likely to be highly satisfied with their employers (OR 0.5, p<0.01).