Purpose: This study seeks to assess the levels of professional autonomy, work environment, role ambiguity, and job satisfaction among Physician Assistants and to determine the factors affecting job satisfaction, with the ultimate goal of providing evi...
Purpose: This study seeks to assess the levels of professional autonomy, work environment, role ambiguity, and job satisfaction among Physician Assistants and to determine the factors affecting job satisfaction, with the ultimate goal of providing evidence to support strategies for enhancing job satisfaction among Physician Assistants.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design. The participants were 143 Physician Assistants who had worked for at least six months and were currently performing physician-assisting duties at one tertiary hospital and one general hospital located in B metropolitan city. Eligible participants were those who understood the purpose and procedures of the study and voluntarily agreed to participate. Data were collected from July 11 to August 8, 2025, using a structured self-administered questionnaire measuring professional autonomy, work environment, role ambiguity, and job satisfaction. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS/WIN version 29.0. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and minimum and maximum values, were calculated. Inferential analyses included independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) with Scheffé post hoc tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression analysis using the enter method.
Results: The results of this study are as follows.
1. The mean age of the participants was 32.73 ± 4.73 years, and 95 participants(73.1%) were female. With respect to educational level, 112 participants(93.8%) held a bachelor’s degree or lower. The mean total clinical work experience was 9.75 ± 4.71 years, and the mean duration of work experience as a Physician Assistant was 5.28 ± 4.03 years. Regarding work characteristics, 83 participants(63.9%) were employed in surgical departments, and 127(97.7%) were affiliated with the nursing department. Most participants worked full-time(n = 119, 91.5%), and 100 participants (76.9%) reported voluntarily applying for the Physician Assistant position. The most common annual salary range was between 50 and 60 million KRW, reported by 56 participants(43.1%). Prior to assignment as a Physician Assistant, only 14 participants(10.8%) had received job-related training, whereas 116 participants(89.2%) were assigned without prior training; the mean duration of pre-assignment training was 1.11 ± 3.86 hours. After assignment, 64 participants(49.2%) reported receiving job-related training, with a mean training duration of 4.26 ± 8.15 hours. In addition, 83 participants(63.8%) reported the availability of a written job manual related to the Physician Assistant role.
2. The mean score for professional autonomy was 3.40 ± 0.65 out of 5 points. The mean score for the work environment was 2.50 ± 0.48 out of 4 points, and the mean score for role ambiguity was 2.98 ± 0.87 out of 5 points. The mean job satisfaction score was 3.56 ± 0.56 out of 5 points.
3. Differences in job satisfaction according to general characteristics showed a statistically significant difference based on whether participants had received job-related training after assignment as Physician Assistants (t=2.30, p=.023).
4. Job satisfaction was positively correlated with professional autonomy (r=.61, p<.001) and work environment (r=.66, p<.001), and negatively correlated with role ambiguity (r=-.51, p<.001).
5. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that professional autonomy (β=0.36, p=<.001), work environment (β=0.39, p=<.001), and role ambiguity (β=-0.16, p=.037) were significant predictors of job satisfaction.
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the work environment was the most influential factor affecting job satisfaction among Physician Assistants, followed by professional autonomy and role ambiguity. These results suggest that efforts to improve job satisfaction should focus on enhancing the work environment, ensuring professional autonomy, and reducing role ambiguity. The findings of this study may serve as foundational evidence for establishing institutional frameworks and developing supportive strategies for Physician Assistants.