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BACKGROUND: Studies on job satisfaction and health have mainly been carried out among Caucasian populations. Similar studies are lacking in Nigeria. AIM: To investigate the level of job satisfaction and its relationship to psychological disorder amongst Nigerian doctors. METHODS: All 190 doctors at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. The respondents completed two self-administered questionnaires, a specifically designed (25-item) questionnaire and a standard instrument--the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 28). RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-two doctors responded, giving a response rate of 80%. Twenty-one (14%) doctors had a GHQ score of 4 and above, and were at increased likelihood of having a psychological disorder. Fifty-four per cent were either very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with their jobs, while 30% were very satisfied or satisfied with their jobs. The proportion of doctors with GHQ scores of 4 or above increased with the level of dissatisfaction although this was not statistically significant. The crude odds ratio of psychological disorder (GHQ score 4 and above) in dissatisfied respondents compared to satisfied respondents was 2.2 (95% confidence interval = 0.6-8.4). The odds ratio remained non-significant after controlling for the presence of adolescent children, stress outside work and length of service. CONCLUSION: This study showed a high rate of job dissatisfaction among Nigerian doctors compared to their European and North American counterparts. The reason for this is not altogether obvious. Further research is needed to determine the causes of job dissatisfaction amongst Nigerian doctors.
AN Ofili (Sun,) studied this question.