3. Length of Stay - NRGPS Abstract

Introduction

The National Rural General Practice Study collected data from over 1800 provincial, rural, and remote area medical practitioners in late 1996 and early 1997. Among the wide variety of data was information about the length of time practitioners had spent in their current principal practice, and the length of time they intended to stay in that practice. This data was analysed in conjunction with a variety of other characteristics of the practitioners to identify cohorts of practitioners which could be defined according to the length of time they could be expected to remain at their current principal practice.

Method

The National Rural General Practice Study provided sufficient information about respondents to identify length of stay cohorts based on : location of the principal practice; personal practice history; hours worked; importance of quality of life issues; satisfaction with aspects of the professional, personal and social environments; personal and familial characteristics; patient types; training and support programs; and attitudes to change in the professional environment. Multivariate analysis techniques (including factor analysis procedures and logistic regression) were used to identify length of stay cohorts.

Results

Longer length of stay was not necessarily related to higher levels of satisfaction with the current practice, but was reliant on characteristics such as: position in the family life cycle; career ambitions; and practice history. Attitudes to quality of life issues appeared to be good predictors of length of stay. Length of stay was related to the correlation between practice characteristics and characteristics of the practitioners and their families.

Discussion

Practitioner and practice characteristics may be assessed at any time from recruitment of a practitioner into a practice. The model for estimating length of stay allows workforce planners to monitor changes in practice and practitioner characteristics over time to predict future workforce issues. The length of stay model will contribute significantly to the understanding of practitioner mobility. The model could readily be applied to non-rural practitioners and other professional groups.

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.