# Job satisfaction among healthcare providers in Saudi tertiary government hospitals: findings from a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study examines job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Saudi hospitals, finding differences based on roles and age, with physicians showing the highest satisfaction.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into job satisfaction variations among healthcare providers in Saudi tertiary hospitals.

## Key findings

- Physicians reported the highest mean job satisfaction compared to nurses and support staff.
- Fringe benefits and contingent rewards were the top-rated satisfaction domains.
- Nurses showed moderate satisfaction, highlighting areas needing managerial focus.

## Abstract

Job satisfaction is a key determinant of healthcare provider performance and well-being, influencing both organizational effectiveness and the quality of patient care. In tertiary care settings, nursing and support staff often face high workloads and complex demands that may affect satisfaction levels. This study aimed to assess job satisfaction among healthcare providers in two tertiary government hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and to examine differences across professional roles and satisfaction domains.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 135 healthcare providers at King Khalid University Hospital and Prince Sultan Military Medical City (February–March 2025). Job satisfaction was assessed using a validated 36-item structured questionnaire adapted from Deshmukh et al. (2023), covering nine core domains. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics and satisfaction scores. Chi-square tests examined associations between categorical variables and satisfaction levels, independent samples t-tests compared mean scores between two groups, and one-way ANOVA assessed differences across multiple groups. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Physicians reported the highest mean job satisfaction (173.4 ± 21.2), followed by nurses (169.8 ± 18.7) and support staff (165.2 ± 20.5). The highest satisfaction was observed in the 31–40-year age group (84.5%). Fringe benefits (mean = 19.96) and contingent rewards (17.23 ± 3.87) were the top-rated satisfaction domains. Nurses demonstrated moderate satisfaction, identifying areas for managerial attention.

The study demonstrates variations in job satisfaction across healthcare provider roles and domains, indicating that satisfaction is influenced by both professional and demographic factors. These findings provide a basis for future organizational strategies aimed at improving healthcare workforce well-being.