Abstract

RIOS HELDT, Fabiola  and  SCHONHAUT BERMAN, Luisa. Primary Healthcare: De-motivation factors and Work stability of Primary care physicians. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2009, vol.2, n.8, pp.378-385. ISSN 2386-8201.

Objective. To determine Chilean physicians´motivation for longer service in Primary Health Care (PHC). Methodology. Semiquantitative study of the demographic data of Chilean physicians working at 10 of 15 PHC centers in a Metropolitan area. High job stability was defined as an above average length of service. Seven physicians that were judged as "highly stable" according to this definition and two administrators took part in a detailed interview for the qualitative study. Results were submitted for subjective evaluation by a panel of experts. Results. The sample was made up of 21 physicians, the average length of service was 8.5 years. Physicians who had worked in PHC for a longer period of time were older (44 vs 28 years) and had performed administrative duties. They listed motivations such as vocation, physician-patient and physician-community relationship and commitment to public health. Amongst the proposals suggested in order to recruit PHC physicians and ensure job stability were opportunities for professional development and strategies to avoid monotony. Conclusions. This study helps to determine what motivates Chilean physicians to remain in PHC for longer periods of time. A more holistic view of patient care, including direct patient contact appears to be needed, as well as providing an opportunity to participate in solving community problems.

Keywords : Physicians; Primary Care; Motivation; Workers.

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