Analysis of job satisfaction among clinical research coordinators

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Qi, Linyan^a | Fu, Qibo^a | Li, Wenchang^b | Wu, Jiheng^a | Li, Ji^a | Ni, Shaoqing^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Clinical Trial Institution Office, Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China | [b] School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Shaoqing Ni, 3333 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. E-mail: chnsq@zju.edu.cn.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:While CRCs play a crucial role in clinical trials, their job satisfaction has not received enough attention. OBJECTIVE:To assess the job satisfaction of CRCs and to explore the relevant factors. METHODS:The survey was programmed into an online questionnaire platform and distributed to CRCs in China for self-evaluation. The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was used to assess job satisfaction, and data on demographic characteristics, working situations, burnout and social support also were collected to identify factors associated with job satisfaction. Data analysis was performed using the R software program. Factors associated with job satisfaction were explored using ordinal logistic regression models. RESULTS:2,840 participants were included in this survey, and the mean value of overall job satisfaction was characterized as “moderate to not fully satisfied”. Additionally, both burnout and overall social support were reported at moderate levels. Ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that age, monthly income, sleep duration per day, weekly working time, a fixed workplace, subjective support, utilization of support, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment were significantly associated with all types of job satisfaction (p <  0.05). Among all the factors, a fixed workplace was more strongly associated with job satisfaction than the other factors (OR = 0.596, p <  0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Implementing the fixed-point CRC mode to promote the provision of a fixed workplace, improving the CRC career development path, increasing income, subjective support and utilization of support, reducing weekly working time, job burnout will help to predict job satisfaction in CRCs.

Keywords: Clinical trial, social support, burnout, research, working conditions, workplace

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230732

Journal: Work, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 1121-1132, 2024