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General practitioners leaving rural practice in Western Victoria
P MacIsaac1, T Snowdon, R Thompson
1West Vic Division of General Practice, Ararat, Victoria, Australia. peter.macisaac@health.gov.au
The Australian Journal of Rural Health
|December 9, 2000
Summary
Rural general practitioners (GPs) often leave practice due to conflicts and dissatisfaction with hospital work. Divisions of general practice can improve retention by addressing these issues and enhancing conflict resolution skills.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Rural Health
- Medical Workforce Studies
Background:
- Rural general practitioner (GP) retention is a critical issue for healthcare access.
- Previous studies indicated factors influencing GPs' decisions to leave rural practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine issues influencing general practitioners' decisions to leave rural practice in western Victoria.
- To explore the role of rural Divisions in general practitioner recruitment and retention.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative study was conducted with general practitioners who had left western Victoria over the past 10 years.
- The study examined factors related to the decision to leave rural practice.
Main Results:
- Rural retention is influenced by a combination of positive and negative factors, including acute triggers.
- Conflict and dissatisfaction with rural GP hospital work frequently precipitate the decision to leave.
- These trigger factors are amenable to intervention by Divisions of general practice.
Conclusions:
- Interventions focusing on improving negotiation and conflict resolution skills for rural GPs are recommended.
- Divisions of general practice can play a key role in enhancing rural GP retention by addressing workplace conflicts.