Importance of attachment to place in growing a sustainable Australian Rural Health Workforce: a rapid review

Beccaria, Lisa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9418-4597 and McIlveen, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1864-9516 and Fein, Erich C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4119-0130 and Kelly, Tricia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0919-9469 and McGregor, Rowena ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4379-0420 and Rana, Rezwanul (2021) Importance of attachment to place in growing a sustainable Australian Rural Health Workforce: a rapid review. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 29 (5). pp. 620-642. ISSN 1038-5282

Text (Accepted Version) AJRH_AuthorAcceptedManuscript.pdf Restricted - Available after 6 October 2022. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0.

Abstract

Introduction: Personal, community, and environmental factors can influence the attraction and retention of regional, rural, and remote health workers. However, the concept of place attachment needs further attention as a factor affecting the sustainability of the rural health workforce. Objective: The purpose of this rapid review was to explore the influence of a sense of place in attracting and retaining health professionals in rural and remote areas. Design: A systematic rapid review was conducted based on an empirical model using four dimensions: place dependence, place identity, social bonding and nature bonding. English-language publications between 2011 and 2021 were sought from academic databases, including studies relevant to Australian health professionals. Findings: A total of 348 articles were screened and 52 included in the review. Place attachment factors varied across disciplines and included (a) intrinsic place-based personal factors; (b) learning experiences enhancing self-efficacy and rural health work interest; (c) relational, social and community integration; and (d) connection to place with lifestyle aspirations. Discussion: This rapid review provides insight into the role of relational connections in building a health workforce and suggests that community factors are important in building attachment through social bonding and place identity. Results indicate that future health workforce research should focus on career decision-making and psychological appraisals including place attachment. Conclusion: An attachment to place might develop through placement experiences or from a strong rural upbringing. The importance of the relational interactions within a work community and the broader community is seen as an important factor in attracting, recruiting, and sustaining a rural health workforce.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Current - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Nursing and Midwifery (1 Jan 2015 - )
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Current - Academic Division - Library
Date Deposited:	09 Dec 2021 01:53
Last Modified:	23 Dec 2021 06:58
Uncontrolled Keywords:	attraction; health workforce; place; retention; rural
Fields of Research (2008):	13 Education > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130209 Medicine, Nursing and Health Curriculum and Pedagogy
Fields of Research (2020):	39 EDUCATION > 3901 Curriculum and pedagogy > 390110 Medicine, nursing and health curriculum and pedagogy
Identification Number or DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.12799
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/43894

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