How do general practitioners choose their practice? Preferences for practice and job characteristics

Area of Science:

• General Practice
• Health Services Research
• Health Economics

Background:

• Attracting and retaining general practitioners (GPs) is crucial for primary healthcare delivery.
• Understanding GP preferences for practice and job characteristics is essential for effective recruitment strategies.
• Recent appointments of GPs in south-east England provide a timely cohort for preference analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the strength of preferences for practice and job characteristics among recently appointed general practitioners (GPs) in south-east England.
• To quantify the influence of various factors on GP practice choice.

Main Methods:

• Conjoint analysis utilizing a postal questionnaire survey.
• Survey distributed to 293 GPs appointed between April 1997 and March 1998 in London, Essex, and Hertfordshire.
• GPs evaluated paired practice descriptions varying in key characteristics.

Main Results:

• Aversion to practicing in areas of high deprivation was the most significant factor influencing GP choice.
• GPs preferred practices with an extended primary health care team, opportunities for outside interests, higher income, shorter working hours, and smaller list sizes.
• An additional income of approximately £5000 per annum was estimated as necessary to attract GPs to areas with high deprivation.

Conclusions:

• Policy interventions should focus on increasing remuneration to attract GPs to under-served areas.
• Providing opportunities for professional development and ensuring robust primary health care teams are key retention strategies.
• Addressing GP preferences can improve the distribution of primary care services.