Exploring Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction and Its Bearing on Performance among Dentists in Central India

Abstract

Purpose: Presence of motivating factors facilitates higher job performance, whereas their absence leads to job dissatisfaction. The study was conducted with the objective of assessing the level of job satisfaction and the associated factors among dentists in Central India. Methods: Data was collected from 155 graduate and postgraduate faculties from the six dental schools of Bhopal city, Central India. Demographic and professional information was collected along with 10 point ‘Warr-Cook-Wall’ (WCW) job satisfaction scale. Chi Square test was used to compare between categorical variables. Logistic and linear regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with job satisfaction. Results: Seventy four male (47.7%) and eighty one female (52.3%) dentists participated in the study, with mean age of the study sample being 33.20 ± 6.7 years. Dentists were highly satisfied with colleagues and fellow workers and dissatisfied with income. Dentists with longer academic experience were more satisfied with income than younger dentists with less experience (p < 0.05).  Female dentists were more dissatisfied than male counterparts (p < 0.05). Age, gender and qualification together explained for 49% variance associated with job satisfaction. Postgraduate faculty were 3.55 times more satisfied with income than graduate faculty (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Study confirms higher qualification and presence of motivating factors mainly good income and cordial relations with colleagues and fellow workers have greatest impact on overall job satisfaction. It highlights the issues in the dental profession needing attention and would be helpful for further improvement of the working conditions for dentists.

Keywords: Dentists, Income, Job satisfaction, Motivation, Workplace