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Huisartsgeneeskunde: aantrekkingskracht en beroepstrouw ... - Lirias

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28 Making G<strong>en</strong>eral Practice Attractive: Encouraging GP attraction and Ret<strong>en</strong>tion KCE Reports 90<br />

The financial parameters (incomes, debt and the g<strong>en</strong>eral socio-economic context) also<br />

influ<strong>en</strong>ce the ret<strong>en</strong>tion in rural areas. Low income (explained by lower reimbursem<strong>en</strong>t<br />

67 , 79 ,<br />

rates and greater numbers of uninsured pati<strong>en</strong>ts) acts as a brake on the ret<strong>en</strong>tion<br />

88 , 92 , 114<br />

ev<strong>en</strong> if a study pointed that the income was usually not a primary concern for<br />

the GP 84 . Nonetheless one study noted that GPs placed in underserved communities<br />

just stay long <strong>en</strong>ough to repay their loan obligations 119 .<br />

Many facets of the local community play an important role in the ret<strong>en</strong>tion of the GPs in<br />

rural areas. The acceptance of the GP by the local community has positive effects on the<br />

ret<strong>en</strong>tion 84 , 105 , 113 .<br />

Some GPs suffer from a lack of professional support e.g., specialty support 67 , 81 , 113 ,<br />

educational opportunities 67 , support from local hospitals or community health staff 81 . In<br />

particular, locum relief, defined as "a physician who substitutes temporarily for another<br />

physician" (from the Latin "locum t<strong>en</strong><strong>en</strong>s" is frequ<strong>en</strong>tly cited. 80 , 81 , 91 , 97 , 105 , 113 .<br />

Conversely, the availability of relief coverage after hours 105 , a good on-call arrangem<strong>en</strong>t,<br />

including time off for holidays and for continuing medical education 79 , 105 , 117 , a medical<br />

group dynamics 79 , an available diagnostic service 79 are many factors supporting the<br />

ret<strong>en</strong>tion of the GP in a rural area.<br />

GOVERNMENTAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL POLICIES<br />

This part is developed in the next section.<br />

LIFE SATISFACTION<br />

The family has a considerable influ<strong>en</strong>ce on the ret<strong>en</strong>tion in rural area. The lack of<br />

cultural activities and <strong>en</strong>tertainm<strong>en</strong>t 81 , 91 , 105 80 , 81 , 91<br />

and the social isolation of the family<br />

have a negative impact on the ret<strong>en</strong>tion. The partner’s employm<strong>en</strong>t opportunities 84 and<br />

his/her happiness in the community are also decisive factors 84 , 105 .<br />

The lack of anonymity (especially if doctors are hesitate to take a wider role within the<br />

community) 105 , 112 and the lack of professional developm<strong>en</strong>t opportunities 105 are<br />

supplem<strong>en</strong>tary negative factors that play a role in the ret<strong>en</strong>tion in rural area.<br />

The community support for the personal life retains GPs in rural areas (availability of<br />

housing and religious support structures) 105 . A study specifies that the proximity to a<br />

city or large regional c<strong>en</strong>ter is not linked with the ret<strong>en</strong>tion 117 .<br />

2.3.1.6 Ret<strong>en</strong>tion in indiffer<strong>en</strong>t area<br />

Similar factors influ<strong>en</strong>ce the ret<strong>en</strong>tion in g<strong>en</strong>eral practice, indep<strong>en</strong>d<strong>en</strong>tly of the location.<br />

They relate to the personal id<strong>en</strong>tity, the working conditions and the life satisfaction.<br />

More European studies (61%) are available for that part (mostly (88%) from the UK).<br />

American studies (31%) and a few Australian studies (8%) were other sources.<br />

PERSONAL IDENTITY<br />

Demographic factors such as the age, the ethnic origin and the sex affect the ret<strong>en</strong>tion.<br />

GPs older than 55 years would be more satisfied with their work: the satisfaction<br />

declines until age 45 and th<strong>en</strong> increases to the age of 60 118 Younger GPs are less<br />

satisfied with the amount of responsibility. Three studies show however that the int<strong>en</strong>t<br />

to leave the profession is higher with advancing age 118 , 120 .<br />

White GPs seem more satisfied with the working conditions 118 .<br />

Wom<strong>en</strong> are g<strong>en</strong>erally more satisfied with their work than m<strong>en</strong> 118 , 121 , However, they<br />

retire earlier (5.5 years earlier) than m<strong>en</strong> 122 , 123 .<br />

WORKING CONDITIONS<br />

Difficult working conditions are also a major brake on ret<strong>en</strong>tion, as explained in the<br />

literature about rural areas.

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