Factors related to the willingness of working physicians to stay in rural areas and their evaluation according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization: A case study

Attracting and retaining physicians in rural and low-income areas are the most important challenges for health system policymakers, which affects the poor health status of the population living in these areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to the willingness of the working physicians to stay in rural areas and evaluate them according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

This applied research was conducted using descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional method in 2019. The study population was 306 physicians working in rural health centers under the supervision of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. They were chosen through the census method, and the data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, simple, and multiple ordinal regression models were used to analyze the data.

The results showed that the willingness of the working physicians to stay in rural areas of Mashhad was low (16 percent). Furthermore, there was a significant relationship among the importance of laws and regulations, the observance of educational dimension, laws and regulations, financial incentives and personal and professional supports with the willingness to stay in rural areas (p <0.05).

The use of adequate financial incentives commensurate with the expectations of employees and commensurate with the opportunity costs of living in rural areas, accompany with individual and job support for employees, can strengthen the effects of each dimension and ultimately the willingness to stay in rural areas.