| 2024 Core Educator Education Scholarship Retreat | Categories Abstract

Insights into Rural Primary Care Providers’ (PCPs) Professional Development (PD) Needs and Barriers

by L. Ida Tovar, MHP, CPH ↓; Andrea Barker, MPAS, PA-C ↓; Michael Battistone, MD ↓; Jennifer Hale-Gallardo, PhD ↓; Jaime Wilson, DNP, RN, PCCN ↓; Bret Hicken, PhD ↓ & Karla Miller, MD ↓

Abstract

Objective: To explore rural primary care providers’(PCPs) professional development (PD) needs and barriers through a national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) survey.

Background: PD opportunities—structured activities to improve professional knowledge, skills, or performance—bolsters PCP recruitment, satisfaction, and retention.1,2,3 Improving recruitment and retention of a competitive workforce is paramount in rural VHA care settings. In 2022, turnover of rural PCPs reached the highest level observed in 20 years.

Methods: Using a systematic approach4,5 a 40-item survey was developed and distributed nationally to 2163 VHA PCPs, defined as practicing in rural locations using RUCA codes of ≥50% rurality. Results We observed a response rate of 20% (n=446). No significant differences in mean responses for each interval suggests low risk of non-response bias. The majority were female (60%), either nurse practitioners (45%) or physicians (43%). Nearly half (46%) considered PD to be “extremely important” to professional satisfaction. One-third (34%) indicated PD to be critical in their decision to remain at VHA. Learning interests were broad and spanned multiple categories including clinical skills development, leadership, research, and preceptorship of health professions trainees.

Conclusions: Findings inform decision-making processes, responsible stewardship of limited resources, and strategic promotion/adaptation of existing VHA PD opportunities to rural settings.

References

  1. Office of Rural Health Workforce Team Meeting Presentation (2021). Workforce Development. WMC Team: L. Pomeroy, P. Youngblood, L. Elliot, J. Marfield.
  2. Rinne ST, Mohr DC, Swamy L, Blok AC, Wong ES, Charns MP. National Burnout Trends Among Physicians Working in the Department of Veterans Affairs. J Gen Intern Med. 2020;35(5):1382-1388. doi:10.1007/s11606-019-05582-7
  3. Asghari S, Kirkland MC, Blackmore J, et al. A systematic review of reviews: Recruitment and retention of rural family physicians. Can J Rural Med. 2020;25(1):20-30. doi:10.4103/CJRM.CJRM_4_19
  4. Gehlbach H, Artino AR Jr. The Survey Checklist (Manifesto). Acad Med. 2018;93(3):360-366. doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000002083
  5. Artino AR Jr, La Rochelle JS, Dezee KJ, Gehlbach H. Developing questionnaires for educational research: AMEE Guide No. 87. Med Teach. 2014;36(6):463-474. doi:10.3109/0142159X.2014.889814


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Insights into Rural Primary Care Providers’ (PCPs) Professional Development (PD) Needs and Barriers by L. Ida Tovar, MHP, CPH, Andrea Barker, MPAS, PA-C, Michael Battistone, MD, Jennifer Hale-Gallardo, PhD, Jaime Wilson, DNP, RN, PCCN, Bret Hicken, PhD & Karla Miller, MD