5. Attitude to Change - NRGPS Abstract

Aims

To assess the perceived influence of changes in a range of factors on the nature of the professional environment of rural and remote practitioners across Australia. To identify differences in perceptions of changes between doctors based on age, sex, locality (rural and remote), practice experience, and involvement in training and support programs. To suggest how analysis of attitudes to change may be useful in designing training and support programs.

Method

The National Rural General Practice Study survey asked respondents to indicate their perception of the influence of changes in a range of factors on their professional environment. Influence of change was rated on a scale of one (completely negative) to seven (completely positive). Respondents were given the option of rating a four if they felt that change in the factor had had no influence on their professional environment.

Results

Most of the change factors included in the survey were viewed as having had some influence on practitioners’ professional environments. For most of the factors, there was a higher percentage of respondents with negative attitudes to change than with positive attitudes to change. Changes in employment and continuing medical education were generally seen as positive, and changes in State and national health policy were generally seen as negative. There were few differences between groups of respondents.

Discussion

A greater understanding of the reactions of rural and remote medical practitioners to changes in their professional environment may assist training and support programs in providing skills and support to manage the change process. Attitudes to change may also be useful in evaluating the performance of training and support programs, as well as the impact of policy, service delivery models, and social change. Future surveys about the influence of change should include more specifically targeted change factors.

Further Information

Further information about the National Rural General Practice Study and its implications for rural general practice policy in Australia can be found in the study working papers and final report. You can obtain copies of the working papers and final report from the School of Rural Health.