Overview of Retention Strategies for Medical Doctors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Their Effectiveness: Protocol for a Scoping Review
BackgroundThe global shortage and maldistribution of health care workers, especially medical doctors, pose a significant threat to achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goal 3 of ensuring well-being and healthy lives for all. Low- and middle-income countries (...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2024-01-01
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| Series: | JMIR Research Protocols |
| Online Access: | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e52938 |
| _version_ | 1827387217176166400 |
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| author | Norehan Jinah Ili Abdullah Sharin Pangie Bakit Izzuan Khirman Adnan Kun Yun Lee |
| author_facet | Norehan Jinah Ili Abdullah Sharin Pangie Bakit Izzuan Khirman Adnan Kun Yun Lee |
| author_sort | Norehan Jinah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundThe global shortage and maldistribution of health care workers, especially medical doctors, pose a significant threat to achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goal 3 of ensuring well-being and healthy lives for all. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately affected by this crisis, with a high rate of brain drain from rural to urban areas, as well as to high-income countries. Various retention strategies have been implemented in different settings and organizations. However, their effectiveness remains underexplored, particularly in LMICs.
ObjectiveWe aim to review the available retention strategies for medical doctors in LMICs and to determine the effectiveness of the various strategies. This review aims to compile relevant research findings on this issue to generate a thorough summary of all the retention strategies practiced in LMICs and, more importantly, to provide the current state of evidence of the effectiveness of these strategies in retaining medical doctors in countries with limited resources and high disease burden.
MethodsThe structured framework given by Arksey and O'Malley will serve as the basis for conducting this scoping review. A comprehensive search strategy will be conducted across 4 electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCOHost, Scopus, and ScienceDirect). A systematic approach following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines will be executed to search, screen, review, and extract data from studies that meet predefined inclusion criteria. Data encompassing bibliographical information, study location, retention strategies, influencing factors, and outcomes (effectiveness) will be obtained from the selected studies using standardized data extraction. Endnote and Microsoft Excel will be used for reference management and removal of duplicate studies. A narrative synthesis will be performed after categorizing and analyzing all the extracted data to identify recurrent themes.
ResultsThis ongoing review will generate a comprehensive compilation of retention strategies implemented in LMICs to prevent brain drain among medical doctors. Data extraction is currently in progress, and completion is expected by early 2024. Themes regarding the types of strategies, influencing factors, and outcomes will be synthesized. The findings will highlight effective retention strategies, gaps, and challenges in implementation for the benefits of future research. By identifying common barriers and facilitators, this review will provide insights into enhancing the policies and initiatives for doctor retention in LMICs.
ConclusionsThis scoping review explores the retention strategies practiced in LMICs and attempts to identify effective strategies from existing research. By evaluating the barriers and challenges that influence the effectiveness of these strategies, policymakers and health care leaders can strive to obtain balanced and optimal health human resources in their respective organizations and countries.
Trial RegistrationMalaysian National Medical Research Register (NMRR) ID-23-01994-OGW; https://nmrr.gov.my/research-directory/ac4f5b88-8619-4b2b-b6c7-9abcef65fdcd
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/52938 |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:58:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a13f7f0937b8469c9c2cb809c495d4a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:58:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj.art-a13f7f0937b8469c9c2cb809c495d4a32024-01-08T13:45:27ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482024-01-0113e5293810.2196/52938Overview of Retention Strategies for Medical Doctors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Their Effectiveness: Protocol for a Scoping ReviewNorehan Jinahhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-1546-9791Ili Abdullah Sharinhttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-3244-1929Pangie Bakithttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9207-8929Izzuan Khirman Adnanhttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-0815-7590Kun Yun Leehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8606-3541 BackgroundThe global shortage and maldistribution of health care workers, especially medical doctors, pose a significant threat to achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goal 3 of ensuring well-being and healthy lives for all. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately affected by this crisis, with a high rate of brain drain from rural to urban areas, as well as to high-income countries. Various retention strategies have been implemented in different settings and organizations. However, their effectiveness remains underexplored, particularly in LMICs. ObjectiveWe aim to review the available retention strategies for medical doctors in LMICs and to determine the effectiveness of the various strategies. This review aims to compile relevant research findings on this issue to generate a thorough summary of all the retention strategies practiced in LMICs and, more importantly, to provide the current state of evidence of the effectiveness of these strategies in retaining medical doctors in countries with limited resources and high disease burden. MethodsThe structured framework given by Arksey and O'Malley will serve as the basis for conducting this scoping review. A comprehensive search strategy will be conducted across 4 electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCOHost, Scopus, and ScienceDirect). A systematic approach following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines will be executed to search, screen, review, and extract data from studies that meet predefined inclusion criteria. Data encompassing bibliographical information, study location, retention strategies, influencing factors, and outcomes (effectiveness) will be obtained from the selected studies using standardized data extraction. Endnote and Microsoft Excel will be used for reference management and removal of duplicate studies. A narrative synthesis will be performed after categorizing and analyzing all the extracted data to identify recurrent themes. ResultsThis ongoing review will generate a comprehensive compilation of retention strategies implemented in LMICs to prevent brain drain among medical doctors. Data extraction is currently in progress, and completion is expected by early 2024. Themes regarding the types of strategies, influencing factors, and outcomes will be synthesized. The findings will highlight effective retention strategies, gaps, and challenges in implementation for the benefits of future research. By identifying common barriers and facilitators, this review will provide insights into enhancing the policies and initiatives for doctor retention in LMICs. ConclusionsThis scoping review explores the retention strategies practiced in LMICs and attempts to identify effective strategies from existing research. By evaluating the barriers and challenges that influence the effectiveness of these strategies, policymakers and health care leaders can strive to obtain balanced and optimal health human resources in their respective organizations and countries. Trial RegistrationMalaysian National Medical Research Register (NMRR) ID-23-01994-OGW; https://nmrr.gov.my/research-directory/ac4f5b88-8619-4b2b-b6c7-9abcef65fdcd International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/52938https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e52938 |
| spellingShingle | Norehan Jinah Ili Abdullah Sharin Pangie Bakit Izzuan Khirman Adnan Kun Yun Lee Overview of Retention Strategies for Medical Doctors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Their Effectiveness: Protocol for a Scoping Review JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | Overview of Retention Strategies for Medical Doctors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Their Effectiveness: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_full | Overview of Retention Strategies for Medical Doctors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Their Effectiveness: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_fullStr | Overview of Retention Strategies for Medical Doctors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Their Effectiveness: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overview of Retention Strategies for Medical Doctors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Their Effectiveness: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_short | Overview of Retention Strategies for Medical Doctors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Their Effectiveness: Protocol for a Scoping Review |
| title_sort | overview of retention strategies for medical doctors in low and middle income countries and their effectiveness protocol for a scoping review |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e52938 |
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