Current Status of Hospitalist Practice and Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction in Korea

Background

Although the roles and responsibilities of hospitalists have grown considerably in recent years, research on the current job status and satisfaction levels of Korean hospitalists is lacking.

Objective

We investigate the present state of Korean hospitalists and the factors influencing their job satisfaction 6 years after the pilot program’s launch.

Design

This cross-sectional analysis was based on an online survey conducted from January 30 to February 18, 2023.

Participants

Korean hospitalists (N = 303)

Main Measures

The survey encompassed participant demographics, hospital information, education, clinical practice, research involvement, and job satisfaction. We employed multiple logistic regression analyses to identify determinants of satisfaction as a hospitalist.

Key Results

The analysis was based on 79 hospitalists’ responses (response rate 26%). Respondents had a median age of 39 years; approximately half were male internal medicine specialists, possessing over 3 years of hospitalist experience. Most respondents were interested in clinical work (94.4%), with only 21.5% interested in research and evidence-based medicine. Over two-thirds indicated that non-clinical duties occupied less than 20% of their time. Overall, job satisfaction among hospitalists averaged 51.9%. Notably, the availability of a research mentor was significantly associated with job satisfaction (P = .011). While hospitalists with more than 3 years of experience, more hospitalists per facility, and autonomy were associated with increased job satisfaction, these associations were not statistically significant. Furthermore, there was no association between night shift work, work type, or work hours and job satisfaction.

Conclusions

Although Korean hospitalists primarily focus on clinical practice, our study underscores the positive impact of mentorship from research mentors on job satisfaction, supported by comprehensive univariate and multivariate analyses. These findings signal a progressive transformation in the role of Korean hospitalists, as they increasingly engage in research alongside patient care.

Graphical Abstract