A survey of recruitment and retention issues for occupational therapists working clinically in mental health

Background:  Mental health services Australia-wide have difficulty recruiting and retaining clinical occupational therapists.
Methods:  A survey of occupational therapists to identify factors that could influence their retention or loss from clinical mental health practice was undertaken.
Results:  Typically, respondents were female, aged 30 years or younger, working full-time at a grade 2 or 3 level, and had worked entirely in mental health. The main positive aspects that respondents identified about their positions were the 'social/emotional environment', 'aspects/nature of their roles', and 'using occupational therapy skills'. The main position constraints were 'insufficient time/workload' and 'insufficient use of occupational therapy skills/generic nature of work'.
Conclusions:  Recruitment and retention strategies are required to retain occupational therapists in clinical mental health positions.     

Systematic review of effective retention incentives for health workers in rural and remote areas: Towards evidence‐based policy

Background: Poor retention of health workers is a significant problem in rural and remote areas, with negative consequences for both health services and patient care. Objective: This review aimed to synthesise the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of retention strategies for health workers in rural and remote areas, with a focus on those studies relevant to Australia. Design: A systematic review method was adopted. Six program evaluation articles, eight review articles and one grey literature report were identified that met study inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results: While a wide range of retention strategies have been introduced in various settings to reduce unnecessary staff turnover and increase length of stay, few have been rigorously evaluated. Little evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of any specific strategy is currently available, with the possible exception of health worker obligation. Multiple factors influence length of employment, indicating that a flexible, multifaceted response to improving workforce retention is required. Conclusions: This paper proposes a comprehensive rural and remote health workforce retention framework to address factors known to contribute to avoidable turnover. The six components of the framework relate to staffing, infrastructure, remuneration, workplace organisation, professional environment, and social, family and community support. In order to ensure their effectiveness, retention strategies should be rigorously evaluated using appropriate pre‐ and post‐intervention comparisons.     

Community participation in the recruitment and retention of rural doctors: methodological and logistical considerations

ABSTRACT: Two Queensland rural communities with histories of poor general practitioner (GP) recruitment and retention participated in a process aimed at developing broadly based community action plans to recruit and retain GPs. Despite their very different physical and social characteristics, the two communities developed many similar objectives and strategies, which had the possiblility of being implemented more widely. The community participation process can be both time- and cost-effective if consideration is given to a variety of methodological and logistical issues. The process is a means by which communities, Divisions of General Practice, government, academic institutions and others can work together to recruit and retain medical practitioners.     

Medical students and rural general practitioners: congruent views on the reality of recruitment into rural medicine

OBJECTIVE: In-depth exploration of the perceptions, experiences and expectations of current long-term rural GPs and medical students intent on a rural career, regarding the current and future state of rural medicine. DESIGN: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. SETTING: Rural and remote towns in Central and Southern Queensland and the School of Medicine, University of Queensland. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen rural GPs with 10-40 years experience. Medical students (five second- and seven third-year), all of whom are members of a rural students' club and have an intention to pursue rural practice. Interviews were conducted between August and December 2004. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Emergent themes relating to participant perceptions of the current and future state of rural medicine. RESULTS: Despite large differences in generation and experience, medical students and rural GPs hold similar perceptions and expectations regarding the current and future state of rural practice. In particular, they cite a lack of professional support at the systems level. This includes specific support for: continuing medical education to obtain and retain the skills necessary for rural practice; dealing with the higher risks associated with procedural work; and consequences of medico-legal issues and workforce shortage issues such as long hours and availability of locums. CONCLUSIONS: Issues relating to recruitment and retention of the rural health workforce are identified by both cohorts as relating to professional support. Medical schools and institutional support systems need to join forces and work together to make rural practice a viable career in medicine.     

Central Australian Nurse Management Model (CAN Model): a strategic approach to the recruitment and retention of remote-area nurses

This paper introduces a new strategic approach, the Central Australian Nurse Management Model (CAN Model), to manage remote area nursing services. Central Australia is home to approximately 45 000 people, of whom 30% are Aborigines with a health status that is markedly lower than the rest of the population. While the Federal, State and Territory governments have policies in place to address health inequities, improvement has been hindered by the difficulty in recruiting and retaining suitable nursing staff in remote areas. Implementation of the three key initiatives that comprise the CAN Model has succeeded in attracting, stabilising and skilling a remote area nursing workforce, fundamental to achieving better health outcomes in Aboriginal populations.     

Comparison of the results of two rural allied health workforce surveys in the Hunter New England region of New South Wales: 2005 versus 2008

Objective: To compare the results of the 2005 and 2008 surveys of the rural allied health workforce in the study region. Design: Comparative analysis of two cross‐sectional surveys. Setting: The rural, northern sector of the Hunter New England region of NSW, Australia. Participants: Both surveys targeted 12 different allied health professions. There were 225 respondents in 2005 and 205 in 2008. Main outcome measures: Comparison is made for 15 dependent variables. Results: There was no significant difference for most variables between 2005 and 2008. Mean age and mean years qualified decreased slightly, from 43 to 41 years and from 20 to 17 years, respectively. The proportion of respondents of rural origin was about two‐thirds in both studies and about half had a rural placement during training. While more than half supervised students, only about one‐third had received training for that role. In both 2005 and 2008, the proportion working 35 or more hours each week was about 66% but the proportion working more than 40 hours had doubled to about 36%. In both surveys about half intended leaving their job within 10 years, while the proportion satisfied with continuing professional development access had halved, from 70% to 35%. Conclusions: Most results of the 2005 Hunter New England survey were verified. It was confirmed that a large proportion of the allied health workforce in the region intend leaving their job in the next 5 to 10 years. This is a concern for the development of new service delivery models.     

Patterns of computer usage among medical practitioners in rural and remote Queensland

ABSTRACT: As part of a more detailed needs analysis, patterns of computer usage among medical practitioners in rural and remote Queensland were investigated. Utilising a questionnaire approach, a response rate of 23.82% (n = 131) was obtained. Results suggest that medical practitioners in rural and remote Queensland are relatively sophisticated in their use of computer and information technologies and have embraced computerisation to a substantially higher extent compared with their urban counterparts and previously published estimates. Findings also indicate that a substantial number of rural and remote practitioners are utilising computer and information technologies for clinical purposes such as pathology, patient information sheets, prescribing, education, patient records and patient recalls. Despite barriers such as bandwidth limitations, cost and the sometimes unreliable quality of Internet service providers, a majority of rural and remote respondents rated an Internet site with continuing medical education information and services as being important or very important. Suggestions that 'rural doctors are slow to adapt to new technologies' are questioned, with findings indicating that rural and remote medical practitioners in Queensland have adapted to, and utilise, information technology to a far higher extent than has been previously documented.     

Profile of the rural allied health workforce in northern New South Wales and comparison with previous studies

Objective: To survey allied health professionals in one region of New South Wales. Design: A questionnaire designed to give a profile of the allied health workforce was mailed to 451 practitioners from 12 health professions between July and September 2005. Setting: The region included the upper Hunter Valley, Liverpool Plains, New England Tablelands and North-west Slopes and Plains of New South Wales. Main outcome measures: The overall response was 49.8%, although the response rates varied between disciplines. Data were collected for a wide range of dependent variables. Results: Pharmacists were the most numerous respondents (21.8%), followed by physiotherapists (17.3%), psychologists (12.4%), radiographers (11.1%) and occupational therapists (10.6%). These five professions made up 73.3% of respondents. Approximately 75% of the sample worked in Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas (RRMA) 3 and 4 sized towns. The female to male ratio was 3:1. The mean age was 43 years, the average time since qualification was 20 years and the mean time in the current position was 10 years. Half of the respondents said they intended leaving within 5 years. Some 65% were of rural origin. The ratio of private to public sector employment was 0.75:1, with 64.0% working full-time. Conclusions: Comparison is made between this and previous studies. The results highlight the need for further regional allied health workforce profiling and for a recruitment and retention strategy that targets new graduates of rural origin and encourages them to stay.     

西部贫困农村地区健康信息传播对婴幼儿母亲科学喂养认知的促进

目的 明晰西部贫困农村地区健康信息传播模式对婴幼儿母亲母乳喂养认知的影响,为提高该类地区妇女的婴幼儿喂养认知,从而改善婴幼儿的健康状况,提供科学建议。 方法 分别于2014年、2019年在我国西部贫困农村地区,选取24月龄及以下婴幼儿及其母亲为研究对象,通过问卷调查收集其人口学特征、健康信息传播模式、科学喂养认知等资料。运用回归分析健康信息传播模式对婴幼儿母亲的科学喂养认知的影响。 结果 共纳入1 284对（2014年）、1 049对（2019年）母婴。2019年婴幼儿母亲早开奶知晓率（72.64%）、纯母乳喂养知晓率（31.36%）均分别显著高于2014年（65.73%,25.30%）（均 P < 0.05）。在信息传播模式中,70.54%的婴幼儿母亲主要通过基层医务工作者获取喂养信息。回归分析显示,基层医务工作者结合信息传播材料传递母乳喂养信息( OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.03～4.85)促进了婴幼儿母亲的早开奶认知;基层医务工作者传播母乳喂养信息( OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.04～2.38)、基层医务工作者与亲友协同传播母乳喂养信息的交互作用( OR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.48～3.87)促进了婴幼儿母亲纯母乳喂养认知。 结论 以基层医务工作者为核心的母乳喂养信息传播模式促进了西部贫困农村地区婴幼儿母亲早开奶、纯母乳喂养的认知。     

The adoption and use of health information technology in rural areas: results of a national survey

Context: Health information technology (HIT) is a national policy priority. Knowledge about the special needs, if any, of rural health care providers should be taken into account as policy is put into action. Little is known, however, about rural‐urban differences in HIT adoption at the national level. Purpose: To conduct the first national assessment of HIT in rural primary care offices, with particular attention to electronic medical record (EMR) adoption, range of capabilities in use, and plans for adoption. Methods: A national mail survey of 5,200 primary care offices, stratified by rurality using Rural‐Urban Commuting Area categories, was conducted in 2007‐2008. Regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between office characteristics and EMR adoption, capabilities used, and future adoption plans. Results: A commercial EMR system was present in 31% of offices, with no significant differences by rurality. Of offices with EMRs, 12% reported using a full range of EMR capabilities, with 51% using a basic range and 37% using less than the basic range. Large Rural (adjusted OR = 3.71, P= .022) and Small Rural (aOR = 3.75, P= .049) offices were more likely than Urban offices to use a broader range of EMR capabilities. Among offices without EMRs, those in Isolated areas were less likely to have more immediate plans to adopt (aOR = 0.19, P= .02). Conclusions: HIT adoption and use in rural primary care offices does not appear to be lower than in urban offices. The situation, however, is dynamic and warrants further monitoring.     

Supporting an emerging workforce: characteristics of rural and remote therapy assistants in Western Australia

OBJECTIVE: Multidisciplinary therapy assistants (TAs) are an emerging but poorly understood rural and remote allied health workforce. As an aid to planning and support of TA programs in rural and remote Western Australia (WA), the number, locality and a range of practice variables of rural and remote TAs in WA were determined. DESIGN: Survey questionnaire. SETTING: Rural and remote regions of WA. PARTICIPANTS: Allied health professionals, TAs, TA coordinators and managers of allied health in country regions of WA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Information was gathered on TA location, qualifications, employing organisation, allied health disciplines TAs work with, supervision practices, role and work scenarios. RESULTS: Ninety-eight TAs were identified in rural and remote WA with a further 23 vacant TA positions. Most TAs work across multiple allied health disciplines, half are located at a distance to their supervisors, and very few have a recognised qualification for their TA work. CONCLUSION: A substantial rural and remote TA workforce was found. A range of TA characteristics were identified that have considerable relevance to the future planning of TA initiatives in rural and remote WA.     

Health‐personnel recruitment and retention target policy for health care providers in the rural communities: A retrospective investigation at Pudong New Area of Shanghai in China

To tackle the shortage of health personnel in the rural areas of Pudong New Area of Shanghai, the local government issued an incentive policy as one of the medical reforms. The current investigation focused on the relevant incentive measures and their corresponding effects and problems with a view to providing referential and useful experiences for those who are engaged in addressing the same problem at home and abroad. The details of the incentive policy were derived from the government document, and the related data about the flow of the rural community health care providers, from the institutional investigation. As indicated by the current investigation, the incentive policy produced some positive effect in attracting health care providers to work in the rural community health centers, especially general practitioners, nurses, MS/MD degree holders, and intermediate professional title holders to be employed in the farther ones. However, it was turned out that the population of high quality health care providers was still not sufficient enough to cover the whole rural areas, which suggested that it was still hard to draw such qualified medical individuals. To conclude in the current investigation, we made three recommendations for the policymakers to take into account in terms of policy maintenance, benefits for health personnel, and guarantee of their lawful rights and interests.     

农村地区结核病核心信息人际传播效果评价

目的评价中学生接受结核病核心信息培训后对其家长、居民进行人际传播干预提高农村居民结核病核心信息知晓率和患者发现水平的效果。方法采用分层整群抽样的方法,抽取邯郸市2个乡镇分别作为试验组和对照组,对试验组中学生实施结核病核心信息干预活动,并指导其将所学知识对家庭成员及周围居民进行人际传播,比较试验组和对照组干预前后对结核病核心信息的知晓率,分析当地结核病患者的就诊数的患者与发现数量的变化。结果干预后,试验组对结核病可疑症状、诊疗机构和免费政策知晓率分别从37．4％、37．8％和37．5％提高到97．1％、91．8％和96．7％,差异有统计学意义（均P〈0．01）;干预后1年内可疑者年就诊率和涂阳肺结核病患者登记率较干预前分别提高了0．98％o和10．23／10万。结论由乡镇中学生对农村居民开展结核病核心信息人际传播,能明显提高学生及家长和居民对结核病的认知水平和患者发现数量。     

构建农村中医药适宜技术推广应用长效新模式

近年来湖州市在开展了10多项农村中医药适宜技术的推广应用工作的基础上,通过重点选择3家具有代表性的湖州地区乡镇基层卫生服务单位,建立示范培育点,以领导重视、以教兴医、成效并重、创新模式为理念,探索农村中医药适宜技术推广应用长效新模式.     

The oral health status and treatment needs of Indigenous adults in the Kimberley region of Western Australia

Objective: The oral health of Indigenous Australians, whether urban or rural, is significantly poorer than their non‐Indigenous counterparts, and it would be expected that the oral health of rural and remote Indigenous Australians would be particularly poor, although the extent of this extra disadvantage has not been thoroughly documented. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status and oral health needs in a sample of adult residents of selected towns and remote communities in the Kimberley region of North‐west Australia. Design: A cross‐sectional survey (dental examinations and oral health questionnaires) was carried out. Setting: Rural and remote communities in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Participants: Adults in four selected communities. Results: The mean Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) score for all participants was 9.8 (SD 8.3). The mean DMFT increased with increasing age. Only 7.3% of people were caries‐free. A total of 13% of participants had periodontal pockets of 6 mm or more, and only 3% had no periodontal disease. More than a third (37%) of all participants had advanced periodontal disease. Only 21% of participants did not need any dental treatment. Conclusions: The oral health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are listed as one of the priority areas of Australia's National Oral Health Plan. Based on the above results, oral health is clearly an important priority in the Kimberley.     

Recruitment and retention of older adults in Assisted Living Facilities to a clinical trial using technology for falls prevention: A qualitative case study of barriers and facilitators

Older adults often have health complexities and higher levels of attrition. Even though they are the main users of healthcare, they are often not included in health research because the health research may not be well designed to accommodate their evolving health needs. One research area in which participation of older adults is essential focuses on improving physical function. In this field, there are many innovations and new technologies developed. Barriers and facilitators to recruit older adults to research that improves physical function by using technology are not well explored yet. This study aims to explore barriers and facilitators regarding recruitment and retention of older adults living in Assisted Living Facilities to a randomised controlled trial study that aimed to improve physical function by using technology. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with four Scheme Managers, three therapists and two researchers. The interviews were transcribed. After open, axial and selective coding, the codes were thematic analysed in ATLAS.ti. Scheme Managers, therapists, researchers and older adults’ peers appear to play an important role in the recruitment and retention of older adults living in Assisted Living Facilities. Additionally, the technology itself and the presentation of the research appear to influence recruitment. Creating a social setting, inviting people face-to-face, demonstrating the technology, showing the benefits by presenting results from a pilot study and alleviating people's fears were experienced as important factors for recruitment. The results from this study can help other researcher to improve recruitment and retention strategies so evidence-based practice in care for older adults can be improved to enhance quality of life of older adults.     

农村卫生适宜技术推广应用政策价值取向探析——基于罗尔斯公平正义理论视角

文章从罗尔斯公平正义理论视角,分析了当前我国深入推进新一轮医药卫生体制改革背景下,大力开展农村卫生适宜技术推广应用的重要现实意义。同时,从理性层面提出了我国开展农村卫生适宜技术推广应用的政策价值取向,包括：以人的健康为本的民生价值取向、促进基本医疗卫生服务均等化的价值取向、公平与效率兼顾以及利益协调、和谐发展的价值取向,为全面开展农村卫生适宜技术的推广应用提供了科学合理的行为导向。