Table 1 Summary of different job satisfiers in public vs. private sectors, for specialists

Rewards

+ Good benefits (for example, paid sabbatical leave, state pension), stable income

+++ Much better pay generally (depending on level of specialization)

Physical environment

++ More predictable working hours - less ‘selling availability’

+++ Higher resource availability (incl. vis. other health workers)

++ Greater sense of career path or progression through more prestige and recognition

Social environment

+++ More collegial relations among doctors

+ Good relations with managers (in H1, not necessarily elsewhere)

+++ Fewer stresses with ‘the administration’ and National/provincial DoH through self-employment

++ Patients less demanding, and less patient contact

++ Patients viewed as more compliant, more patient contact

+++ More positive social relations with other health and hospital workers

Work itself

+++ Opportunities for research and teaching (in academic settings)

+++ More opportunities for ‘challenge’, variety, and feeling ‘needed’ or relevant

+ More ‘straightforward’ and less complicated cases (valued by some)

+ Opportunity for state-of-the-art medical practice experience

+++ More autonomy and ability to influence working environment