Comparing job satisfaction amongst Maltese podiatrists working in different clinical settings.

Abstract

Aim The aim of the study is to explore the level of job satisfaction amongst Maltese Podiatrists working in two different clinical settings. Methods A comparative quantitative non experimental design was used in this research. The sample comprised 23 Maltese Sate Registered Podiatrist working within the Podiatry Department. Twelve podiatrists were recruited from a hospital setting and 11 podiatrists were recruited from a Primary Care setting. All participants had at least 2 years of work experience as podiatrists in that particular setting and worked on a full time basis (40 hours per week). The study was conducted from September 2011 until February 2012. All consenting participants were asked to fill in the short form of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire is composed of 20 statements and is used to explore the levels of job satisfaction. Results When comparing the levels of job satisfaction between the Maltese Podiatrists working in a Primary Care setting and those working in a Hospital setting, there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.609). Generally, Maltese podiatrists were highly satisfied with their occupation both in Primary Care setting and hospital setting. Although the level of overall job satisfaction was reported to be high, the participants reported a low mean satisfaction score for their work compensation and chances of advancements in their work place. Conclusion The study has shown that Maltese Podiatrist working within the Podiatry Department in the Department of Health experience overall high levels of job satisfaction. When comparing job satisfaction between podiatrists working in different clinical environments, no statistical difference was found. However, these findings also highlight the fact that Maltese podiatrists feel that they are not well compensated for their work and that they are limited to advancement in their workplace. Further research in diverse clinical settings such as private podiatry clinics and private hospitals may be necessary to compare levels of job satisfaction amongst podiatrists.