Comparative analysis of job satisfaction and determinants between medical and surgical hospitalists in South Korea: a nationwide cross-sectional online survey

Abstract

Purpose: The hospitalist system, formally adopted in South Korea in 2021 after a pilot program in 2016, has been associated with improvements in inpatient care outcomes and patient satisfaction. However, a persistent shortage of hospitalists- recently worsened by increasing demands on inpatient care-has raised concerns regarding workforce stability. This study aimed to compare job satisfaction and its determinants between medical and surgical hospitalists in South Korea. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted in February 2024 among 389 board-certified hospitalists registered with the Korean Society of Hospital Medicine and the Korean Society of Surgical Hospital Medicine. The survey included questions on demographics, work environment, job satisfaction (monetary and nonmonetary), and career intentions. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U-tests, and multiple linear regression. Results: A total of 94 hospitalists responded (67 medical and 27 surgical). Surgical hospitalists reported significantly longer weekly working hours (47.9 hours vs. 40.9 hours, P = 0.013) and higher patient loads (19.5 patients vs. 15.4 patients, P = 0.003). Despite these differences, overall satisfaction levels were similar between the groups. Eligibility for faculty appointment and availability of research and education funding were significantly associated with nonmonetary satisfaction. Annual salary was the most significant predictor of monetary satisfaction, explaining 17.2% of the variance. Conclusion: Surgical hospitalists experienced higher workloads but maintained comparable satisfaction levels to their medical counterparts. Enhancing academic opportunities and tailoring financial incentives may be effective strategies to improve job satisfaction and support workforce retention across specialties. [Ann Surg Treat Res 2025;109(6):401-407]