The role of clinical workload and satisfaction with workload in rural primary care physician retention.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between clinical workload and workload satisfaction in rural primary care physician retention.

DESIGN

Data from a survey, "Practice Patterns of Young Physicians, 1987: United States," were analyzed.

PARTICIPANTS

Data on rural primary care (general or family practice, general internal medicine, or pediatrics) physicians working full time (> 35 h/wk) in clinical care were analyzed (n = 373).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Self-reported likelihood of leaving the current practice within the next 2 years.

RESULTS

Twenty-five percent of the physicians indicated that they were somewhat or very likely to leave the practice within the next 2 years. The modal reason for the likelihood of leaving was working too many hours (21%). Forty-nine percent of the respondents were dissatisfied with their workload. Those who were dissatisfied with their workload reported a greater likelihood of leaving (P = .0005). However, a quantitative measure of workload was not significantly related to the likelihood of leaving. The results of a multiple regression indicated that employees and those dissatisfied with their workload were most likely to leave the practice within the next 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Satisfaction with clinical workload is an important factor in the likelihood of retaining rural primary care physicians.