Abstract
IntroductionThe uneven distribution of allied health professionals (AHPs) in rural and remote Australia and other countries is well documented. In Australia, like elsewhere, service delivery to rural and remote communities is complicated because relatively small numbers of clients are dispersed over large geographic areas. This uneven distribution of AHPs impacts significantly on the provision of services particularly in areas of special need such as mental health, aged care and disability services.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the relative importance that AHPs (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and psychologists – “therapists”) living in a rural area of Australia and working with people with disability, place on different job characteristics and how these may affect their retention.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to AHPs working with people with disability in a rural area of Australia over a 3-month period. Information was sought about various aspects of the AHPs’ current job, and their workforce preferences were explored using a best–worst scaling discrete choice experiment (BWSDCE). Conditional logistic and latent class regression models were used to determine AHPs’ relative preferences for six different job attributes.ResultsOne hundred ninety-nine AHPs completed the survey; response rate was 51 %. Of those, 165 completed the BWSDCE task. For this group of AHPs, “high autonomy of practice” is the most valued attribute level, followed by “travel BWSDCE arrangements: one or less nights away per month”, “travel arrangements: two or three nights away per month” and “adequate access to professional development”. On the other hand, the least valued attribute levels were “travel arrangements: four or more nights per month”, “limited autonomy of practice” and “minimal access to professional development”. Except for “some job flexibility”, all other attributes had a statistical influence on AHPs’ job preference. Preferences differed according to age, marital status and having dependent children.ConclusionsThis study allowed the identification of factors that contribute to AHPs’ employment decisions about staying and working in a rural area. This information can improve job designs in rural areas to increase retention.
Highlights
The uneven distribution of allied health professionals (AHPs) in rural and remote Australia and other countries is well documented
Research to inform workforce policy that supports rural disability service delivery is important given the national shortage of allied health therapy services outside of metropolitan centres [14]
Any AHPs working in private practice who stated they would not leave private practice (n = 20) were not shown the best–worst scaling discrete choice experiment (BWSDCE)
Summary
The uneven distribution of allied health professionals (AHPs) in rural and remote Australia and other countries is well documented. In Australia, like elsewhere, service delivery to rural and remote communities is complicated because relatively small numbers of clients are dispersed over large geographic areas This uneven distribution of AHPs impacts significantly on the provision of services in areas of special need such as mental health, aged care and disability services. The uneven distribution of allied health professionals (AHPs) in rural and remote Australia and other countries is well documented [2,3,4,5] This is more significant in areas of special need such as mental health, aged care and disability services. In Australia, like elsewhere, service delivery to rural and remote communities is further complicated because relatively small numbers of clients are dispersed over large geographic areas [6]. In Australia the disability sector provides support for people with a broad range of impairments including acquired disabilities such as brain injury and spinal cord injury, irreversible physical injuries and children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (from birth) such as cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders and Down syndrome [8]
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