Approaches to Facilitate Improved Recruitment, Development, and Retention of the Rural and Remote Medical Workforce: A Scoping Review Protocol

Document Type : Study Protocol

Authors

1 Division of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

2 Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

3 School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

4 The Rural Clinical School of WA, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

Abstract

Background
Medical workforce scarcity in rural and remote communities is a global problem, severely challenging healthcare delivery and health equity. Both developed and developing countries report geographically uneven distributions of the medical workforce. This scoping review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed and grey literature concerning approaches implemented to improve the recruitment, development, and retention of the rural medical workforce in both developed and developing countries.

 
Methods
We will utilize the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework as the basis for this scoping review. The databases to be searched include Medline, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL Plus, and PubMed for articles from the last decade (2010-2019). Searches for unpublished studies and grey literature will be undertaken using the Google Scholar - Advanced Search tool. Quantitative and qualitative study designs will be included. Two authors will independently screen and extract relevant articles and information, with disagreements resolved by a third. Quantitative and qualitative analyses (thematic) will be conducted to evaluate and categorize the study findings.

 
Discussion
The scoping review will aid in mapping the available evidence for approaches implemented to advance the process of recruitment, development, and retention of the medical workforce in the rural and remote areas in developed and developing nations.

 
Registry
This protocol has been registered to Open Source Framework (https://osf.io/e83hp/).

Highlights

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Keywords

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International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 10, Issue 1
January 2021
Pages 22-28

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History

  • Receive Date: 30 July 2019
  • Revise Date: 09 February 2020
  • Accept Date: 18 February 2020
  • First Publish Date: 01 January 2021

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