FACTORS AFFECTING WILLINGNESS OF DOCTORS TO WORK IN RURAL AREAS OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the willingness of medical doctors to work in rural areas. The study also aimed to elucidate the factors influencing the decision of doctors to work in rural versus urban location of clinical practice.
Methods: It is a cross-sectional study that was conducted from 8th January 2016 to 18th January, 2016 including randomly selected House officers (Hos), Postgraduate Trainees (PGTs) and Medical Officers (MOs) working in various departments of Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. The questions related to demographic details, future plans and willingness of doctors. Factors facilitating or preventing them from accepting a rural position were also enquired about.
Results: Thirty (30%) of the respondents were found willing to work inrural areas while 45% were neutral and 25% had a negative attitude towards practice in rural areas. Factors significantly related to rural choice of practice included rural place of birth (p value=.001), previous experience of having lived in rural settings (p value= .001)payment of fees by parents rather than by family or loans (p value=.001) and with the doctors' expectations of whether they are likely to work in rural/urban/foreign locations (p value=.001).
Conclusion: The study shows that most of the doctors who have a rural birthplace/ experience of living are more willing to work in rural areas. Therefore, if the government wants to fill the vacant posts in rural locales, scholarship schemes for students from rural areas should be increased.