Factors influencing turnover intention among primary care doctors: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China

Abstract Background The intention to leave a job, known as turnover intention, among primary care doctors has a significant impact on primary health care service delivery. We investigated primary care doctors’ turnover intention and analysed associated factors involved in primary health facilities i...

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Main Authors: Tong Wen, Yan Zhang, Xue Wang, Guo Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-02-01
Series:Human Resources for Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12960-018-0274-z
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author Tong Wen
Yan Zhang
Xue Wang
Guo Tang
author_facet Tong Wen
Yan Zhang
Xue Wang
Guo Tang
author_sort Tong Wen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The intention to leave a job, known as turnover intention, among primary care doctors has a significant impact on primary health care service delivery. We investigated primary care doctors’ turnover intention and analysed associated factors involved in primary health facilities in Chongqing, China. Methods A total of 440 doctors were interviewed, they were selected using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. The survey instrument was a self-administered questionnaire which assessed socio-demographic and work-related characteristics, job satisfaction and turnover intention. The data were analysed using χ 2 test, one-way analysis of variance, exploratory factor analysis and linear regression analysis. Results Our study found that 42.3% of the primary care doctors we sampled in Chongqing, China, intended to resign. Location, age, job title, doctor’s position level, work pressure and job satisfaction were associated with turnover intention. Job satisfaction included both employment-related job satisfaction (including “your chance of promotion”, “your rate of pay” and two other items) and satisfaction with the job itself (including “the freedom to choose your own method of working”, “your job safety” and two other items). Conclusions Improving job satisfaction, in terms of salary, promotion and job safety, is crucial for reducing turnover intention among primary care doctors. Therefore, we suggest that the government increase its financial investment in primary care facilities, especially in less-developed areas, and reform incentive mechanisms to improve the job satisfaction of primary care doctors. The government should consider policies such as establishing a social pension programme for village-level doctors and providing more opportunities for job promotion among primary care doctors, especially township-level doctors. Attention should also be paid to the impact of rapid urbanization, which could lead to increased workload or increased opportunities for career development, thus affecting primary care doctors’ turnover intention.
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spelling doaj.art-3a69f8bfe0fa48a087683fd248a1e4272022-12-21T23:51:17ZengBMCHuman Resources for Health1478-44912018-02-0116111110.1186/s12960-018-0274-zFactors influencing turnover intention among primary care doctors: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, ChinaTong Wen0Yan Zhang1Xue Wang2Guo Tang3School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical UniversityAbstract Background The intention to leave a job, known as turnover intention, among primary care doctors has a significant impact on primary health care service delivery. We investigated primary care doctors’ turnover intention and analysed associated factors involved in primary health facilities in Chongqing, China. Methods A total of 440 doctors were interviewed, they were selected using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. The survey instrument was a self-administered questionnaire which assessed socio-demographic and work-related characteristics, job satisfaction and turnover intention. The data were analysed using χ 2 test, one-way analysis of variance, exploratory factor analysis and linear regression analysis. Results Our study found that 42.3% of the primary care doctors we sampled in Chongqing, China, intended to resign. Location, age, job title, doctor’s position level, work pressure and job satisfaction were associated with turnover intention. Job satisfaction included both employment-related job satisfaction (including “your chance of promotion”, “your rate of pay” and two other items) and satisfaction with the job itself (including “the freedom to choose your own method of working”, “your job safety” and two other items). Conclusions Improving job satisfaction, in terms of salary, promotion and job safety, is crucial for reducing turnover intention among primary care doctors. Therefore, we suggest that the government increase its financial investment in primary care facilities, especially in less-developed areas, and reform incentive mechanisms to improve the job satisfaction of primary care doctors. The government should consider policies such as establishing a social pension programme for village-level doctors and providing more opportunities for job promotion among primary care doctors, especially township-level doctors. Attention should also be paid to the impact of rapid urbanization, which could lead to increased workload or increased opportunities for career development, thus affecting primary care doctors’ turnover intention.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12960-018-0274-zTurnover intentionJob satisfactionDoctorPrimary health careChina
spellingShingle Tong Wen
Yan Zhang
Xue Wang
Guo Tang
Factors influencing turnover intention among primary care doctors: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China
Human Resources for Health
Turnover intention
Job satisfaction
Doctor
Primary health care
China
title Factors influencing turnover intention among primary care doctors: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China
title_full Factors influencing turnover intention among primary care doctors: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China
title_fullStr Factors influencing turnover intention among primary care doctors: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China
title_full_unstemmed Factors influencing turnover intention among primary care doctors: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China
title_short Factors influencing turnover intention among primary care doctors: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China
title_sort factors influencing turnover intention among primary care doctors a cross sectional study in chongqing china
topic Turnover intention
Job satisfaction
Doctor
Primary health care
China
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12960-018-0274-z
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AT yanzhang factorsinfluencingturnoverintentionamongprimarycaredoctorsacrosssectionalstudyinchongqingchina
AT xuewang factorsinfluencingturnoverintentionamongprimarycaredoctorsacrosssectionalstudyinchongqingchina
AT guotang factorsinfluencingturnoverintentionamongprimarycaredoctorsacrosssectionalstudyinchongqingchina