Job satisfaction criteria to improve general practitioner recruitment: a Delphi consensus

Area of Science:

• General Practice
• Family Medicine
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• The general practitioner (GP) workforce is declining globally.
• Limited research exists on positive aspects and job satisfaction within general practice.
• A European study identified 31 job satisfaction factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key job satisfaction factors for general practitioners in France.
• To inform policies aimed at enhancing the attractiveness, recruitment, and retention of family medicine professionals.

Main Methods:

• The Delphi consensus method was employed with two rounds of expert consultation.
• The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to rank the identified factors.
• An expert panel of general practitioners and non-GPs participated.

Main Results:

• Thirty factors were initially retained from the Delphi rounds.
• Eight factors were identified as crucial for job satisfaction via NGT.
• Key factors include patient care, work flexibility, and professional collaboration.

Conclusions:

• The identified eight factors are vital for policy development in family medicine.
• Implementing policies based on these factors can improve GP recruitment and retention.
• Focusing on these aspects can enhance the overall attractiveness of the general practice profession.