Occupational stress and job satisfaction in recently qualified Australian osteopaths

Occupational stress is an important, but under-explored issue in osteopathic practice. In related professions, such as general medical practice, occupational stress is a key factor compromising job satisfaction, and potentially compromising patient care. This study was developed to explore the job satisfaction and sources of occupational stress, in osteopaths with less than 5 years clinical practice experience. A concurrent study was conducted to explore the same issues in more experienced practitioners. Sources of occupational stress and job satisfaction were explored via a questionnaire mailed to osteopaths at their practicing addresses. Participants returned the questionnaire to the researchers using reply-paid envelopes. Participation in this study was voluntary. Personal indentifiers have been kept confidential. The Osteopaths' Stress Survey (OSS) was mailed to 936 Australian osteopaths with an invitation to participate in this study and provide data on their occupational stress and job satisfaction. The returned surveys were divided between the two lead researchers on the basis of the respondents years in practice. Surveys returned from practitioners of less than 5 years clinical practice were analysed in this study. Most new graduate osteopaths (93%) reported being very satisfied, or somewhat satisfied, with their chosen career. The most frequent sources of occupational stress among new graduate osteopaths included, managing patients who were "difficult", managing time pressures to see patients and dealing with paperwork. The most severe stressors included, earning enough money, excessive clinical responsibility and managing difficult patients. The severity of stressor is somewhat tempered by the frequency of that stressor. Although largely satisfied with osteopathic practice, new graduate osteopaths find paperwork, time pressures, and difficult patients frequently stressful in their work. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

cmaster

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Victoria University

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Salter, Jade

• 320000 Medical and Health Sciences

Language dc:language

en