Retaining Pharmacists in Rural Canada

Abstract

Background:

The Multistakeholder Framework of Rurality project was funded by Health Canada's Rural and Remote Health Innovations Initiative. The aim of this project was to develop a tool to assist rural communities with health human resource planning and to help governments and communities in recruiting and retaining health care providers in rural and remote communities.

Methods:

A national survey was sent to nurses, physicians, and pharmacists living in rural or remote communities to determine, among other factors, satisfaction with their personal and professional lives in those communities. One of the questions asked in the survey was “Do you plan to be in practice in the community in two years?”

Results:

Completed surveys were returned by 1019 pharmacists. Pharmacists who were married, had children living at home, were between the ages of 35 and 54 years, and had between 6 and 24 years in practice were more likely to say they would remain in the community. Communities where there were better working hours, better availability of coverage and backup, higher earning potential, and greater opportunities were more likely to retain pharmacists, as were communities where there were better opportunities for family members. Pharmacists were also more likely to state an intention to remain in communities where they had a sense of belonging and a sense of being appreciated. Multivariate predictors of pharmacists' intent to remain were children living at home, professional factors, and personal factors.

Conclusions/Implications:

Despite some study limitations, the results presented here could be used to help communities select pharmacists who are most likely to remain in practice in the communities for longer periods. Community attributes such as distance to large population centres cannot be changed, but attributes that contribute to personal and professional satisfaction could be altered.