Interventions to manage dual practice among health workers

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Dual practice, where health workers hold multiple jobs, is prevalent globally.
• It poses significant risks to health service efficiency, quality, and equity, particularly in public sectors of low- and middle-income countries.
• Effective management strategies for dual practice are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically assess the impact of regulations designed to manage dual practice among health professionals.
• To identify evidence-based interventions for controlling dual practice in the public health sector.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science.
• Inclusion criteria focused on study designs like RCTs, N-RCTs, CBA, and ITS examining interventions for dual practice in public health professionals.
• Two independent reviewers screened and selected studies, resolving discrepancies through discussion.

Main Results:

• The systematic review identified no eligible studies that met the inclusion criteria.
• Consequently, no data on the effects of interventions to manage dual practice could be synthesized.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for rigorous research evaluating interventions aimed at managing dual practice among healthcare workers.
• Understanding the diverse manifestations, prevalence, and impact of dual practice on health service delivery is essential.
• Future study designs should be informed by foundational research on dual practice to effectively evaluate management interventions.