A qualitative study on working experience of rural doctors in malappuram district of Kerala, India

Abstract

Background:Improving the working conditions of rural doctors is an important issue to increase the quality of health services to target groups.Objectives:To assess the working experience of rural doctors at primary health care level.Materials and Methods:This qualitative study was conducted among 30 medical officers from 21 primary health centers in Malappuram district of Kerala, India. In-depth interview was conducted, and content analysis was performed with the identification of themes based on the responses obtained.Results:There were 19 males and 11 females belonged to 25 to 55 years age group. About 70% (21) of them were graduates with MBBS qualification, and the rest were postgraduates. About 2/3rd of them (20) had experience of less than 5 years. They expressed difficulty in managing the work in stipulated time period. However, this had never affected their OP management in anyway. They told that higher authorities were supportive, but they faced some opposition from the public in implementation of national program. Few opined that the training received was grossly insufficient in running the administrative affairs of the health center. Most of them satisfied with physical infrastructure, but manpower including medical officers and supporting staff were not sufficient. Some opined that the age of retirement is too early and should be increased. They participated in Continuing Medical Education, but expressed that it's content should suit to primary health care level.Conclusion:This study highlighted their concern to patient care and time, field work, administrative work, infrastructure, professional development, and future prospects. Further large scale evaluation studies will explore the situational analysis of it.

Community perspectives on primary health centers in rural Maharashtra: What can we learn for policy?

“…Literature on the experiences of PHC doctors that speaks of their frustration with clinically irrational demands from people complements these findings. [24252627] How can this issue be dealt with? For one, we found people gave much importance to “doctor's attention” during the discussions.…”

Further strategies to improve the working experience of rural doctors

“…have presented the results of an insightful study on the working experience of rural doctors in Kerala. [ 1 ] A number of concerns were identified – these included concerns with regard to time, administrative and management work, professional development, and future prospects. All these issues are clearly important; however, it would also have been interesting to hear of the rural GPs’ views on other topics such as the role of teams in rural and remote healthcare, the relationship between primary care and secondary care in rural and remote healthcare, and the professional status of rural GPs.…”