A Comparison of Practice Issues Among Occupational Therapists in the Rural Northwest and the Rocky Mountain Regions

Kohler, Elizabeth; Mayberry, Wanda

doi:10.5014/ajot.47.8.731

Cited by 22 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…It is likely that some therapists are more suited to the independent nature of rural practice. Kohler and Mayberry (1993) found that the most important attributes needed for rural practice were self-reliance and independence. Administrative skills may also be critical for success in an independent practice environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of Important Retention and Recruitment Factors by Therapists in Northwestern Ontario

Solomon

Salvatori

Berry

2001

The Journal of Rural Health

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Recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural and remote communities are well-known challenges. Although the literature states that lifestyle factors and being from a rural background influence recruitment and retention, much of the research is dated and of limited relevance to rehabilitation professionals. This study reports on a survey of physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) in northwestern Ontario. Seventy-four percent of the OTs and PTs from this geographically isolated region of Canada responded to a mail survey examining factors that influenced their job recruitment and retention decisions. Availability of leisure and recreation activities, proximity of family of origin, need for OTs and PTs and influence of spouse or partner frequently contributed to recruitment decisions and were also important in retention decisions. Although professional autonomy was an important source of job satisfaction for the respondents, almost one-third reported a feeling of professional isolation. Professional development initiatives appeared to influence job satisfaction but were unlikely to influence working life decisions. The findings suggest that recruitment and retention strategies should be multifaceted to reflect the complexity of therapists' decision-making.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of Important Retention and Recruitment Factors by Therapists in Northwestern Ontario

Solomon

Salvatori

Berry

2001

The Journal of Rural Health

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“…These differences further challenge health human resource workforce planning and policy [14]. Hence, in order to improve access to health care services for people living in rural areas, we need to better understand key contextual factors in recruiting and retaining health providers to rural areas, in particular OTs and PTs [16,17]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recruitment and retention of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rural regions: a meta-synthesis

Roots

2013

BMC Health Serv Res

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BackgroundSignificant efforts have been made to address the shortage of health professionals in rural communities. In the face of increasing demand for rehabilitation services, strategies for recruiting and retaining occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) have yielded limited success. This study aims to broaden the understanding of factors associated with recruitment and retention of OTs and PTs in rural regions, through a synthesis of evidence from qualitative studies found in the literature.MethodsA systematic search of three databases was conducted for studies published between 1980 - 2009 specific to the recruitment and retention of OTs and PTs to rural areas. Studies deemed eligible were appraised using the McMaster Critical Review Form. Employing an iterative process, we conducted a thematic analysis of studies and developed second order interpretations to gain new insight into factors that influence rural recruitment and retention.ResultsOf the 615 articles retrieved, 12 qualitative studies met the eligibility criteria. Our synthesis revealed that therapists’ decision to locate, stay or leave rural communities was influenced to a greater degree by the availability of and access to practice supports, opportunities for professional growth and understanding the context of rural practice, than by location. The second-order analysis revealed the benefits of a strength-based inquiry in determining recruitment and retention factors. The themes that emerged were 1) support from the organization influences retention, 2) with support, challenges can become rewards and assets, and 3) an understanding of the challenges associated with rural practice prior to arrival influences retention.ConclusionsThis meta-synthesis illustrates how universally important practice supports are in the recruitment and retention of rehabilitation professionals in rural practice. While not unique to rural practice, the findings of this synthesis provide employers and health service planners with information necessary to make evidence-informed decisions regarding recruitment and retention to improve availability of health services for rural residents.

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“…Emphasis in the literature has largely been on issues related to recruitment rather than those related to retention. Low retention rates amongst health professionals impacts on the health of rural communities by creating difficulties in providing a consistent and reliable service (Huntley, 1995; Kohler & Mayberry, 1993). Studies in medicine and nursing suggest there are differences between factors affecting recruitment and those that affect retention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retention: An unresolved workforce issue affecting rural occupational therapy services

Mills

Millsteed

2002

Aus Occup Therapy J

100

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Failure to retain health professionals in rural areas contributes to the poor health status of these communities through an inability to deliver reliable and consistent services. Considerable attention has been focused on factors affecting recruitment of health professionals. Far less is known about factors affecting the retention of occupational therapists. This was the focus of this study. Ethnographic interviews were used to explore the experiences of 10 occupational therapists who had left rural practice. Six themes emerged from the participants’ experiences, from when they first considered rural practice to reflections following their departure from it. These themes were initial appeal, facing the challenge, rural practice issues, the social sphere, reasons for leaving and the value of rural experience. These factors gave rise to a proposed Model of Retention Equilibrium, which suggests that retention can be improved by addressing the imbalance between incentives to leave and incentives to stay. The model provides a useful framework for occupational therapists contemplating rural practice, as well as for health services managers responsible for service delivery in rural areas.

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A Comparison of Practice Issues Among Occupational Therapists in the Rural Northwest and the Rocky Mountain Regions

Cited by 22 publications

References 3 publications

Perceptions of Important Retention and Recruitment Factors by Therapists in Northwestern Ontario

Perceptions of Important Retention and Recruitment Factors by Therapists in Northwestern Ontario

Recruitment and retention of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rural regions: a meta-synthesis

Retention: An unresolved workforce issue affecting rural occupational therapy services

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