Factor structure of job satisfaction among healthcare professionals in public hospitals in Belgrade, Serbia

Introduction/Objective. This study aimed to examine job satisfaction among healthcare professionals in public hospitals in Belgrade, Serbia, and to identify its underlying dimensions using exploratory factor analysis. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a standardized job satisfaction questionnaire developed according to the methodology of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia. The analysis included 6899 healthcare professionals, categorized into two groups according to educational level: those with a university degree and those with secondary school or college education. Descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, χ2 test, and exploratory factor analysis were applied. Results. Healthcare professionals with a university degree reported significantly higher satisfaction than those with secondary school or college education across the analyzed domains. The highest satisfaction scores were observed for collaboration with colleagues and superiors, whereas salary was the lowest-rated item in both groups. Exploratory factor analysis identified three dimensions of job satisfaction: “Organizational Culture and Personal Development”, “Working Conditions,” and “Workplace Change Intention.” Conclusion. Job satisfaction among healthcare professionals in Belgrade public hospitals was multidimensional and differed according to educational background. The findings indicate that interpersonal collaboration was among the most positively evaluated aspects of work, whereas salary and other working conditions represented important sources of dissatisfaction. The identified factor structure provides exploratory evidence for further research and more detailed organizational assessment of job satisfaction in healthcare settings.