Recruitment and retention of family physicians

This study investigates the factors family physicians report as influencing their recruitment and retention. Fifty family physicians who completed their residency training at the Duluth Family Practice Residency received surveys one year and three years after entering practice. Spouses' preferences were most important at the time of recruitment, while children's issues were more influential at the time of the retention survey. The diversity of the higher-ranked variables indicates the multifactorial nature of decisions to settle and maintain practice in a community. Communities and facilities that are recruiting family physicians need to work together. The community's educational system and needs of the spouse must be directly addressed for effective recruitment and retention. Income is important to retention, even though individuals ranked it low as a variable.