Township hospitals, the main provider of rural primary healthcare in China, are severely understaffed. International studies on factors influencing rural working are increasing; however, studies on factors affecting t...Township hospitals, the main provider of rural primary healthcare in China, are severely understaffed. International studies on factors influencing rural working are increasing; however, studies on factors affecting the recruitment and retention of health workers in Chinese township hospitals are limited. The current study aims to understand the motivation of health workers and arrive at a systematic framework of pluralistic factors that would help support health workers in terms of receiving posts and remaining in posts in township hospitals. A three-stage integrated quantitative and qualitative methodology was employed. First, a survey on 120 directors of township hospitals was conducted to learn the latest status of health workers in township hospitals and distinguish existing problems. Second, after sending these problems back to the directors, an open-ended pen-and-paper survey was conducted to ask the directors to identify the factors influencing the attraction and retention of health workers in township hospitals. Third, four focus groups were conducted to gauge the underlying reasons. Five problems from the questionnaire survey were recognized, and numbers of thematic factors were identified at the individual, professional, and treatment environment from the pen-and-paper survey and focus group. Similar to other studies, this framing of both non-financial and financial elements affected the attraction and retention of health workers in township hospitals, thereby filling the gap in a Chinese context. Although several factors had been recognized earlier, our findings further highlighted the importance of these factors. Meanwhile, the factors identified in this study were barely explored in literature. This paper identifies and develops multi-faceted factors to call for a bundled package of multidimensional incentives if decision-makers get interested. The evidence-based findings in our study can be used to provide China-specific policy recommendations on how to recruit and retain health workers in rural areas of China.展开更多
Aim To realize the present situation of drug purchase, supply, and use in the health service organizations and drug distributors in rural areas, and to put forward some suggestions. Methods An interview survey was con...Aim To realize the present situation of drug purchase, supply, and use in the health service organizations and drug distributors in rural areas, and to put forward some suggestions. Methods An interview survey was conducted in 20 township hospitals, 26 countryside drugstores, and 84 village dispensaries in Hainan, Anhui, Henan, and Sichuan Provinces. Results （1） The main drug supplying organizations in the countryside are township hospitals and village dispensaries. （2） The personnel in the drug supplying organizations are rather inadequately educated. （3） The drug resources in the grass-roots countryside are complex and disordered. （4） Most of the countryside retail drugstores are small, and the number of drugstores is small, but their development potential is great. Conclusion （1） A basic drug catalogue for rural areas should be made up. （2） Legitimate drug wholesale companies should be encouraged to supply drugs for vast countryside. （3） Development of drug distributionstations in townships should be promoted. （4） The administration of drugs in the countryside should be strengthened.展开更多
文摘Township hospitals, the main provider of rural primary healthcare in China, are severely understaffed. International studies on factors influencing rural working are increasing; however, studies on factors affecting the recruitment and retention of health workers in Chinese township hospitals are limited. The current study aims to understand the motivation of health workers and arrive at a systematic framework of pluralistic factors that would help support health workers in terms of receiving posts and remaining in posts in township hospitals. A three-stage integrated quantitative and qualitative methodology was employed. First, a survey on 120 directors of township hospitals was conducted to learn the latest status of health workers in township hospitals and distinguish existing problems. Second, after sending these problems back to the directors, an open-ended pen-and-paper survey was conducted to ask the directors to identify the factors influencing the attraction and retention of health workers in township hospitals. Third, four focus groups were conducted to gauge the underlying reasons. Five problems from the questionnaire survey were recognized, and numbers of thematic factors were identified at the individual, professional, and treatment environment from the pen-and-paper survey and focus group. Similar to other studies, this framing of both non-financial and financial elements affected the attraction and retention of health workers in township hospitals, thereby filling the gap in a Chinese context. Although several factors had been recognized earlier, our findings further highlighted the importance of these factors. Meanwhile, the factors identified in this study were barely explored in literature. This paper identifies and develops multi-faceted factors to call for a bundled package of multidimensional incentives if decision-makers get interested. The evidence-based findings in our study can be used to provide China-specific policy recommendations on how to recruit and retain health workers in rural areas of China.
文摘Aim To realize the present situation of drug purchase, supply, and use in the health service organizations and drug distributors in rural areas, and to put forward some suggestions. Methods An interview survey was conducted in 20 township hospitals, 26 countryside drugstores, and 84 village dispensaries in Hainan, Anhui, Henan, and Sichuan Provinces. Results （1） The main drug supplying organizations in the countryside are township hospitals and village dispensaries. （2） The personnel in the drug supplying organizations are rather inadequately educated. （3） The drug resources in the grass-roots countryside are complex and disordered. （4） Most of the countryside retail drugstores are small, and the number of drugstores is small, but their development potential is great. Conclusion （1） A basic drug catalogue for rural areas should be made up. （2） Legitimate drug wholesale companies should be encouraged to supply drugs for vast countryside. （3） Development of drug distributionstations in townships should be promoted. （4） The administration of drugs in the countryside should be strengthened.
