Investigation of the Relationship of Job Satisfaction and Depression Level among Medical Faculty Research Assistants

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between job satisfaction level and depression degree, personal and environmental factors among assistants of Düzce University Medical Faculty. Methods: 117 physicians including 70 males (%60) and 47 females (%40), participated in this descriptive and cross-sectional survey. A questionnaire was applied by face-to-face interview, which consisted of open-ended questions and questions with two or multiple-choices. Questions were asked about demographic attributes, usage of anti-depressant medications, having chronic illnesses, working conditions, habits, and spare time activities. Beck Depression Scale and Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale were added to the semi-structured questionnaire form. Results: Most of the assistant doctors joined this research (n=74; 63.2%) implied that if they had a chance, they would prefer another faculty because of difficulty of doctorate education, heavy job responsibilities threatening human physiology, high intensity of working tempo, decreasing respect on doctor identity, and of course low salary. Inadequacy of physical conditions in working area, scarcity of supportive staff, high numbers of night duties, inadequacy of night duty assistant doctors and the most important factor that is deprivation from allowance after night duty cause reduction of internal and external work satisfaction. Conclusion: It was pointed out that many assistants have the idea to prefer another department that has less labor and less risk factor if they had the opportunity. There was no significant diversity between internal, external and general job satisfaction scores of doctors from different specialties.