Career satisfaction among medical school professors: a case study in Brazil

Abstract

A B S T R A C TObjective: To investigate the career satisfaction of medical school professors in relation to initial motivation, satisfaction factors, and the desire to remain in the profession. Methodology: A qualitative methodology was used, based on questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with faculty members at a federal institution of higher education in Brazil. Results: For 42.86% of the sample, teaching began while they were medical students; 80% had chosen teaching either as a vocation or due to influence from families or professors; 20% chose teaching as a professional opportunity. The majority, 57.14%, stated they were happy with teaching, and 51.42% did not plan to leave the career. Factors involved in satisfaction with teaching were: the possibility of remaining up-to-date in the medical profession, the feeling of doing their duty, their contribution to training future doctors, and contact with young people and the university setting. Factors leading to dissatisfaction were pedagogical (33.33%), economic (30.95%), institutional (14.28%), and relational (14.28%). Conclusions: Subjects expressed a positive attitude towards teaching, and because of their great personal satisfaction with the career, they did not plan to leave it. These findings should shed light on factors that interfere with career satisfaction and help increase those that promote satisfaction, thus improving the productivity and well-being of medical professors. R E S U M OObjetivo: Investigar a satisfação com a carreira docente de professores de medicina em relação à: motivação inicial, fatores de satisfação e desejo de permanência da profissão. Metodologia: Utilizou-se metodologia qualitativa; foram aplicados questionários e entrevista semi-estruturada aos professores de uma instituição federal de ensino superior. Resultados: 42,86% iniciou-se na docência como estudantes de medicina; 80% escolheram a docência por vocação, influência familiar e influên-cia de professores e 20% por oportunidade; 57,14% consideram-se satisfeitos com a docência e 51,42% não pretendem se aposentar. Foram considerados como fatores de satisfação: possibilidade de atualização profissional, sensação de dever cumprido, contribuição com formação médica, contacto com jovens e com ambiente universitário. Os fatores de insatisfação citados foram os pedagógicos (33,33%), econômicos (30,95%), institucionais (14,28%) e relacionais (14,28%). Conclusões: Os pesquisados manifestaram atitude positiva frente à carreira docente e não possuem desejo de abandonar a carreira, pela grande satisfação pessoal. Esses achados podem contribuir com a reflexão sobre fatores que interferem na (in)satisfação da carreira docente e contribuir para que fatores de satisfação sejam aumentados, melhorando a produtividade e o bem estar de professores de medicina. According to Garcia 2 , these career phases include: "pre-training", consisting of prior teaching experiences that can affect the teacher unconsciously; initial training or formal preparation in a specific institution; the ini...

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