PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION OF PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN PORTUGAL

Resumo

Job satisfaction is a complex phenomenon because it is a subjective state. The aim of the study is to evaluate the job satisfaction of physiotherapists working in Portugal for more than 6 months. In a sample of 780 physical therapists, through the application of an online questionnaire that included questions of individual and professional characterization and related to job satisfaction, it was found that they were moderately satisfied with the profession (67.4%), with a correlation positive relationship between the dimensions of job content satisfaction (r=0.134; p<0.01) and work compensation (r=0.180; p<0.001) with years of professional experience. Lower pay and general practice are associated with lower levels of satisfaction (p<0.001). Physiotherapists who saw 3 or more users per hour had lower levels of satisfaction (p<0.001). With this study we can conclude that satisfaction is positively impacted by the relationship with patients and negatively influenced by the perspectives of career progression, remuneration received and the recognition of work by institutions.

Keywords: Professional satisfaction, length of professional practice, professional practice context, training, physiotherapy