Sources of Stress and Satisfaction in Crown Health Enterprise Senior Medical Staff

Aim: To report the sources of stress and satisfaction in the specialist workforce of three crown health enterprises (CHEs).

Method: Ninety eight specialists in Northland Health, Waitemata Health and Southern Health completed a questionnaire rating 39 factors for causing stress and satisfaction in their daily work.

Results: The commonest sources of stress for specialists were keeping up to date, carrying a heavy clinical workload and time pressure generally. There were significant differences between specialty groups as well as regional differences. Specialists in two CHEs found dealing with management a major stressor. This finding is a major difference from previous overseas studies.

Conclusions: Doing the job properly, having a job that seems worthwhile, having control of one's professional life and a job that is interesting provide the greatest sources of work satisfaction for medical specialists.