JOB SATISFACTION AMONG RESIDENT DOCTORS IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE FACILITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Over the past few years the number of doctors choosing to work abroad or in non-medical professions has been growing. The current paper assesses job satisfaction among junior and senior resident doctors of different specialties in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and to compare the level of satisfaction between these two groups of professionals. It employed a cross- sectional approach that involved 150 resident doctors of different cadre and specialization. The questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic information of the respondents, job satisfaction and work related conditions. Findings revealed that age differences and number of working hours between junior and senior resident doctors were not statistically significant. Most doctors (60%) had their last promotion less 1 year prior to the study with mean of 0.9±0.9years.80.1% of doctors were satisfied with their job, 17.3% were undecided and 5.2% were dissatisfied. More senior residents (82.2%) felt satisfied with their jobs than junior residents (77.9%). There was a very weak positive correlation (r=0.21) between age and job satisfaction, and between length of service in years and job satisfaction(r=0.28). Job satisfaction was highest among resident doctors in chemical pathology and radiology and lowest among resident doctors in obstetrics and gynecology. Implications of the findings to the intended population were elucidated.