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Motives for early retirement of self-employed GPs in the Netherlands: a comparative study of two periods.
Greuningen, M. van, Heiligers, P.J.M., Velden, L.F.J. van der. Motives for early retirement of self-employed GPs in the Netherlands: a comparative study of two periods. European Journal of Public Health: 2011, 21(suppl. 1), p. 19-20. Abstract. 4th European Public Health Conference: 'Public Health and Welfare - Welfare Development and Public Health' 9-12 november 2011, Copenhagen.
Background: Workforce planning for general practitioners needs to be informed by data on retirement intentions of GPs and factors that influence them. Several studies have investigated the association of explanatory factors with intentions to leave practice and actual leaving (e.g. in the UK, USA, Belgium). This study focuses on the actual leaving of GPs and factors that may influence this, in the Netherlands. At the start of the 21st century, measures were taken to reduce high workload among GPs by e.g. organizing out-of-hours primary care. Therefore we analyze reasons to leave and their influence on the retirement age before and after the measures took place. Methods: A first retrospective survey was sent in 2003 to 520 selfemployed GPs, who retired between 1998 and 2002. The same survey was sent in 2008 to 405 GPs who retired between 2003 and 2007. The response rates were respectively 60 and 54%. Analyses were performed with retirement age as outcome variable and work perception, external factors and personal reasons as independent factors to compare the periods. Results: Retirement age was higher in 2003–2007 (M: 56; F: 51) than in 1998–2002 (M: 52; F: 50), especially for male GPs. Female GPs retired at an earlier age than males in both periods. Significant differences were found between both surveys on reasons for leaving. Almost all reasons mentioned had less influence in 2003–2007 than in 1998–2002, by male, female or all GPs. Demands from government and health insurers (female), societal developments (all), demands from patients (female), health (female) and emotional exhaustion (male) were less important in 2003–2007 than in 1998–2002. However, external control (male) was a more important reason to leave in the second period. Job satisfaction was reported (all) higher in 2003–2007. In 998–2002, external control was positively and career change negatively related with retirement age. In 2003– 2007, career change was negatively related to retirement age and being female contributed significantly to a lower retirement age. Conclusions: The results suggest that the measures taken by the government may have improved job satisfaction among GPs, may have caused a higher retirement age and less (negative) explanatory factors influencing actual turnover in 2003–2007.
Background: Workforce planning for general practitioners needs to be informed by data on retirement intentions of GPs and factors that influence them. Several studies have investigated the association of explanatory factors with intentions to leave practice and actual leaving (e.g. in the UK, USA, Belgium). This study focuses on the actual leaving of GPs and factors that may influence this, in the Netherlands. At the start of the 21st century, measures were taken to reduce high workload among GPs by e.g. organizing out-of-hours primary care. Therefore we analyze reasons to leave and their influence on the retirement age before and after the measures took place. Methods: A first retrospective survey was sent in 2003 to 520 selfemployed GPs, who retired between 1998 and 2002. The same survey was sent in 2008 to 405 GPs who retired between 2003 and 2007. The response rates were respectively 60 and 54%. Analyses were performed with retirement age as outcome variable and work perception, external factors and personal reasons as independent factors to compare the periods. Results: Retirement age was higher in 2003–2007 (M: 56; F: 51) than in 1998–2002 (M: 52; F: 50), especially for male GPs. Female GPs retired at an earlier age than males in both periods. Significant differences were found between both surveys on reasons for leaving. Almost all reasons mentioned had less influence in 2003–2007 than in 1998–2002, by male, female or all GPs. Demands from government and health insurers (female), societal developments (all), demands from patients (female), health (female) and emotional exhaustion (male) were less important in 2003–2007 than in 1998–2002. However, external control (male) was a more important reason to leave in the second period. Job satisfaction was reported (all) higher in 2003–2007. In 998–2002, external control was positively and career change negatively related with retirement age. In 2003– 2007, career change was negatively related to retirement age and being female contributed significantly to a lower retirement age. Conclusions: The results suggest that the measures taken by the government may have improved job satisfaction among GPs, may have caused a higher retirement age and less (negative) explanatory factors influencing actual turnover in 2003–2007.