Factors That Influence the Turnover Intention of Chinese Village Doctors Based on the Investigation Results of Xiangyang City in Hubei Province

Overview

Journal Int J Equity Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Health Services
Public Health

Date 2014 Nov 5

PMID 25366285

Citations 39

Authors

Pengqian Fang

Xiangli Liu

Lingxiao Huang

Xiaoyan Zhang

Zi Fang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: This study analyzes the factors that influence the turnover intention of village doctors by investigating village clinic workers in rural areas, particularly in Xiangyang City, Hubei Province.

Methods: A total of 1184 village clinics were sampled randomly in Xiangyang City. The research assistants distributed 1930 questionnaires to village doctors. This study had a response rate of 97.88%. A total of 1889 village doctors completed the questionnaires.

Results: The results of the investigation conducted in Xiangyang City indicated that 63.2% of the village doctors did not plan to leave the organization where they were currently employed. However, more than one-third (36.8%) of the village doctors considered leaving their posts voluntarily. Some job satisfaction indexes affect their intention to resign. The results showed that income satisfaction and the way organization policies are put into practice, in addition, my pay and the amount of work I do, the chances for advancement on this job and the work conditions are significant factors that contribute to the turnover intention of village doctors.

Conclusions: This study may interest heath care management administrator and highlight the influence of job satisfaction on turnover intention of village doctors. Our findings outline some issues that contribute to these problems and suggest an approach for health care policy maker to implement a broader national process and organizational strategies to improve the job satisfaction and stability of the village doctors.

Citing Articles

The impact of the hierarchical medical system on medical resource allocation in China.

Fu L, Wang R, Dong Y Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):7561.

PMID: 40038294 PMC: 11880513. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88558-4.

Factors influencing reselection of village doctors in rural-oriented tuition-waived medical education program in Shanghai, China: a cross-sectional study.

Gao J, Zhang J, Shi C, Fan A, Zhang P Front Public Health. 2025; 12:1511709.

PMID: 39901911 PMC: 11788338. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1511709.

The effect of incentive factors on turnover intention of PHC workforce in rural China-from the perspective of two-factor theory.

Sang L, Zheng X, Chen G, Bai Z, Chen R BMC Health Serv Res. 2024; 24(1):1486.

PMID: 39604900 PMC: 11603648. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11790-7.

Analysis of job satisfaction among clinical research coordinators.

Qi L, Fu Q, Li W, Wu J, Li J, Ni S Work. 2024; 79(3):1121-1132.

PMID: 38875070 PMC: 11612937. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230732.

Intention to leave and associated factors among health professionals working at public hospitals in East Gojjam zone, Northwest Ethiopia, cross-sectional study.

Molla F, Molla M, Delle E, Asrade G, Endalew B PLoS One. 2024; 19(3):e0301235.

PMID: 38527050 PMC: 10962794. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301235.

References

Behmann M, Schmiemann G, Lingner H, Kuhne F, Hummers-Pradier E, Schneider N . Job satisfaction among primary care physicians: results of a survey. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2012; 109(11):193-200. PMC: 3317533. DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2012.0193. View

Mosadeghrad A, Ferlie E, Rosenberg D . A study of relationship between job stress, quality of working life and turnover intention among hospital employees. Health Serv Manage Res. 2011; 24(4):170-81. DOI: 10.1258/hsmr.2011.011009. View

Mosadeghrad A, Ferlie E, Rosenberg D . A study of the relationship between job satisfaction, organizational commitment and turnover intention among hospital employees. Health Serv Manage Res. 2008; 21(4):211-27. DOI: 10.1258/hsmr.2007.007015. View

Beasley J, Karsh B, Sainfort F, Hagenauer M, Marchand L . Quality of work life of family physicians in Wisconsin's health care organizations: a WReN study. WMJ. 2005; 103(7):51-5. View

Teng C, Shyu Y, Chang H . Moderating effects of professional commitment on hospital nurses in Taiwan. J Prof Nurs. 2007; 23(1):47-54. DOI: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2006.10.002. View

Cutchin M, Norton J, Quan M, Bolt D, Hughes S, Lindeman B . To stay or not to stay: issues in rural primary care physician retention in eastern Kentucky. J Rural Health. 1994; 10(4):273-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.1994.tb00241.x. View

Zhang D, Unschuld P . China's barefoot doctor: past, present, and future. Lancet. 2008; 372(9653):1865-1867. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61355-0. View

Buchbinder S, Wilson M, Melick C, Powe N . Estimates of costs of primary care physician turnover. Am J Manag Care. 2000; 5(11):1431-8. View

Ding Y, Smith H, Fei Y, Xu B, Nie S, Yan W . Factors influencing the provision of public health services by village doctors in Hubei and Jiangxi provinces, China. Bull World Health Organ. 2013; 91(1):64-9. PMC: 3537250. DOI: 10.2471/BLT.12.109447. View

10.

Lee F, Stewart M, Brown J . Stress, burnout, and strategies for reducing them: what's the situation among Canadian family physicians?. Can Fam Physician. 2008; 54(2):234-5. PMC: 2278317. View

11.

Li X, Chongsuvivatwong V, Xia X, Sangsupawanich P, Zheng W, Ma K . Revisiting current "barefoot doctors" in border areas of China: system of services, financial issue and clinical practice prior to introducing integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI). BMC Public Health. 2012; 12:620. PMC: 3490804. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-620. View

12.

Anand S, Barnighausen T . Human resources and health outcomes: cross-country econometric study. Lancet. 2004; 364(9445):1603-9. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17313-3. View

13.

Chi-Man Yip W, Hsiao W, Chen W, Hu S, Ma J, Maynard A . Early appraisal of China's huge and complex health-care reforms. Lancet. 2012; 379(9818):833-42. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61880-1. View

14.

Pathman D, Konrad T, Williams E, Scheckler W, Linzer M, Douglas J . Physician job satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and turnover. J Fam Pract. 2002; 51(7):593. View

15.

Zhang Y, Feng X . The relationship between job satisfaction, burnout, and turnover intention among physicians from urban state-owned medical institutions in Hubei, China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2011; 11:235. PMC: 3197494. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-11-235. View

16.

Chen L, Evans T, Anand S, Boufford J, Brown H, Chowdhury M . Human resources for health: overcoming the crisis. Lancet. 2004; 364(9449):1984-90. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17482-5. View

17.

Wang J, Su J, Zuo H, Jia M, Zeng Z . What interventions do rural doctors think will increase recruitment in rural areas: a survey of 2778 health workers in Beijing. Hum Resour Health. 2013; 11:40. PMC: 3765180. DOI: 10.1186/1478-4491-11-40. View

18.

Wang C, Rao K, Wu S, Liu Q . Health care in China: improvement, challenges, and reform. Chest. 2013; 143(2):524-531. DOI: 10.1378/chest.12-1839. View

19.

Mohr D, Bauer M, Penfold R . Changes in VA psychiatrists' attitudes about work environment and turnover during mental health service enhancement. Psychiatr Serv. 2013; 64(6):563-9. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201200337. View

20.

Pathman D, Konrad T, Dann R, Koch G . Retention of primary care physicians in rural health professional shortage areas. Am J Public Health. 2004; 94(10):1723-9. PMC: 1448525. DOI: 10.2105/ajph.94.10.1723. View