Social Determinants of Rural Health Workforce Retention: A Scoping Review

Catherine Cosgrave, Christina Malatzky and Judy Gillespie
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Catherine Cosgrave: Department of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Docker St Wangaratta, 3677 Victoria, Australia
Christina Malatzky: School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove campus, Brisbane, 4059 Queensland, Australia
Judy Gillespie: School of Social Work, Faculty of Health and Social Development, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: Residents of rural and remote Australia have poorer health outcomes than their metropolitan counterparts. A major contributor to these health disparities is chronic and severe health workforce shortages outside of metropolitan areas—a global phenomenon. Despite emerging recognition of the important influence of place-based social processes on retention, much of the political attention and research is directed elsewhere. A structured scoping review was undertaken to describe the range of research addressing the influence of place-based social processes on turnover or retention of rural health professionals, to identify current gaps in the literature, and to formulate a guide for future rural health workforce retention research. A systematic search of the literature was performed. In total, 21 articles were included, and a thematic analysis was undertaken. The themes identified were (1) rural familiarity and/or interest, (2) social connection and place integration, (3) community participation and satisfaction, and (4) fulfillment of life aspirations. Findings suggest place-based social processes affect and influence the retention of rural health workforces. However, these processes are not well understood. Thus, research is urgently needed to build robust understandings of the social determinants of rural workforce retention. It is contended that future research needs to identify which place-based social processes are amenable to change.

Keywords: rural health; workforce; retention; turnover; allied health; nursing; medical professionals; social processes; rural place; scoping review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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