Quality of Life and Job Satisfaction Among Nurses and Physicians in Greek Public Hospitals: Associations with Protocol-Based Work and Workplace Characteristics

Abstract

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and job satisfaction are important indicators of nurses and physicians’ wellbeing and system sustainability, particularly under conditions of high clinical demand. Although organizational determinants of nurses and physicians’ wellbeing have received increasing attention, evidence regarding protocol-based work as a specific organizational characteristic remains limited. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 Greek public hospitals between September 2022 and March 2023. The study included 405 nurses and physicians (214 nurses and 191 physicians). HRQoL was assessed with the SF-36 and job satisfaction with the MSQ-Short Form. Protocol-based work was assessed using a single self-reported dichotomous item referring to the use of standardized clinical protocols during the pandemic. Associations between workplace characteristics and outcomes were examined using multivariable linear regression models. Results: Vitality (57.24 ± 17.61 among nurses and 53.92 ± 16.93 among physicians) and general health (56.58 ± 19.81 and 53.42 ± 16.32, respectively) were the lowest-scoring HRQoL dimensions in both professional groups. Compared with physicians, nurses reported higher mental health (62.52 vs. 58.11, p < 0.05), social functioning (67.17 vs. 58.96, p < 0.05), and overall job satisfaction (3.23 vs. 2.98, p < 0.01), whereas physicians scored higher in physical functioning (83.47, p < 0.05) and bodily pain (72.87, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Several organizational characteristics were associated with wellbeing among nurses and physicians. Protocol-based work showed consistent associations with better HRQoL and job satisfaction across multiple outcomes. However, longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether these associations reflect causal relationships.