The effects of job characteristics on physicians’ orientation toward lifelong learning

Abstract

With the rapidly growing body of medical knowledge, physicians must engage in lifelong learning. Physicians’ orientation toward lifelong learning is of crucial importance. This study aimed to explore the effects of job characteristics on physicians’ lifelong learning. A multicenter study collecting data from physicians from three medical centers in Taiwan was performed. A total of 321 physicians were surveyed with the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire (C-JCQ) and the revised Jefferson Scale of Physician Lifelong Learning (JeffSPLL) to assess their job characteristics (i.e., job demands, job control, social support) and orientation toward lifelong learning. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to validate both questionnaires. Hierarchical regression was utilized to explore the relationship of job characteristics and predictors with physicians’ lifelong learning. The results revealed that job demands (β = 0.10), job control (β = 0.19), social support from supervisors (β = 0.16), the interaction of job demands × job control (β = − 0.11) and the interaction of job demands × social support from colleagues (β = 0.13) were significantly (p <.05, p <.001) related to lifelong learning. Moreover, physicians in the active group (high demand, high control) possessed a stronger orientation toward lifelong learning (mean = 3.57) than those in the low-strain group (mean = 3.42), high-strain group (mean = 3.39) and passive group (mean = 3.20). In conclusion, examining physicians’ job demands, job control and social support helps us to understand their orientation toward lifelong learning and may provide insight to improve educational strategies. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

Keywords

Author Keywords

lifelong learning social support job control Job demands

Index Keywords

human questionnaire Humans Surveys and Questionnaires Article lifelong learning physician job satisfaction human experiment Physicians Social support exploratory factor analysis clinical trial work Taiwan continuing education Education, Continuing job characteristics multicenter study Job Description

Author Affiliations

Department of Family Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Changhua, Taiwan

Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Bioethics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Bioethics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Department of Medical Education, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Bioethics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Bioethics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Department of Medical Education, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Funding & Acknowledgements

National Science and Technology Council, NSTC

Grant: NSTC 110-2628-H-002-004-MY2

This study was partially supported under research grants from the National Science and Technology Council (R.O.C). (NSTC 110-2628-H-002-004-MY2). However, the funder did not have any involvement or decision in the process of this research. In addition, the authors declare no conflicts of interest.

National Science and Technology Council, NSTC

This study was partially supported under research grants from the National Science and Technology Council (R.O.C). (NSTC 110-2628-H-002-004-MY2). However, the funder did not have any involvement or decision in the process of this research. In addition, the authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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The effects of job characteristics on physicians’ orientation toward lifelong learning

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