A national study of job satisfaction factors among faculty in physician assistant education

The purpose of this study was to examine the job satisfaction factors for physician assistant (PA) faculty. Job satisfaction factors were divided into two categories: intrinsic factors about the respondents (work itself and opportunities for advancement) and extrinsic factors about the institutional faculty support (salary, supervisory support, and coworker relations). The theoretical approach used in this study to examine job satisfaction among PA faculty was Herzberg’s (1966) two-factor theory of motivation. Additionally to enhance Herzberg’s theory regarding intrinsic and extrinsic factors, Smith, Kendall, and Hulin’s (1969) facet-specific job satisfaction theory (i.e., Job Description Index (JDI)) was utilized. A Web-based survey instrument was distributed by email communication to all PA faculty members who were affiliated with the Physician Assistant Education Association. This study evaluated physician assistant faculty’s attitudes and perceptions regarding job satisfaction. After expert panel review of the Web-based survey instrument, the total population of PA program faculty members (N = 1142) was asked to complete the survey. Five hundred eighteen faculty members responded, a 45% response rate. Frequencies, percentages, and appropriate summary statistics were computed for the personal and professional characteristics. Cronbach’s alpha was computed to measure the internal consistency of the five JDI factors and the overall job satisfaction scale. The mean and standard deviation for each factor was documented. Spearman’s correlation was computed for the JDI factors’ relationship to overall satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of overall satisfaction. Overall, PA faculty members were more satisfied than dissatisfied with their jobs. First, Web-based surveys are a relatively new methodology, and this study utilized this technique for collecting the data. Second, physician assistant faculty members are satisfied with four of the five JDI satisfaction factors. Third, PA faculty members are least satisfied with their academic salaries. Fourth, years of PA education experience was a significant predictor for overall job satisfaction and requires administrators to be aware of their PA faculty’s needs. Finally, this study did support Herzberg’s (1966) theory and Smith, Hulin, and Kendall’s (1969) theoretical framework