Factors for potential turnover of doctors

Abstract

Background. The need to attract doctors in scarce specialties and preserve the core of experienced specialists makes the study of the potential of voluntary labor mobility urgent. A search for ways to improve the quality of medical personnel in health care needs an extension in understanding main motives for the turnover of doctors in order to ensure their social safety. Purpose. The aim of the paper is to identify the scale of the potential turnover of medical personnel and the reasons influencing doctors’ intentions to change their jobs. Materials and methods. The concept of decent work adapted to the health sector was used as a theoretical basis for the study. Methods of qualitative and quantitative analysis of sociological data became the methodological basis. The empirical basis of the analysis was the materials of a sample questionnaire survey of medical personnel in Moscow health care. Results. A comprehensive analysis of the potential turnover of doctors was carried out in four areas of their social safety, specifically, guarantees of stable employment; normal working conditions and working hours; decent and regular wages and availability of professional development opportunities. Discussion. The key features of medical personnel, influencing the propensity to change jobs, have been analyzed. The characteristics of the workplace, which contribute to the plans for finding a more suitable place of work, have been identified. Their importance in the decision to change jobs has been ranked. Conclusion. Scientific prerequisites for normalizing the problems of the turnover of doctors and improving quality medical staff were formulated.