Yishay Wasserstrum1,2, Racheli Magnezi1, Ofer Tamir3, Stav Koren4, Dor Lotan2, Arnon Afek5,6. 1. a Department of Management , Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan , Israel. 2. b Internal Medicine department "T" , Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Tel-Ha'Shomer , Ramat-Gan , Israel. 3. c Management , Baruch-Padeh Medical Center in Poria , Tiberias , Israel. 4. d Goldman School of medicine, Ben-Gurion University , Be'er-Sheva , Israel. 5. e Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel. 6. f Israel Ministry of Health , Jerusalem , Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In an attempt to address severe medical manpower shortages in several medical disciplines, the Israeli Ministry of Health offered grants to residents who chose one of these fields. METHODS: A total of 220 residents from various disciplines were surveyed on demographic, academic, and professional data, and asked to rank considerations in the choice of their field of residency. RESULTS: Residents in targeted fields attributed significantly more importance to the grant in their decision-making process (U = 3704.5, p < 0.001). This effect remained significant in a multivariate model (OR 1.67, 95%CI 1.32-2.10, p < 0.001). Higher age (OR 1.15, 95%CI 1.01-1.31, p = 0.031) and attribution of significance to the working conditions compared to other residency fields (OR 1.69, 95%CI 1.23-2.32, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with receptivity toward the grant in a multivariate analysis. DISCUSSION: Receptivity toward the offered grants correlated with real-life data shows a rise in physician in these fields, and the weak association between such receptivity and most variables tested may suggest that the grants were perceived as a property of the specific choice rather than a special bonus. CONCLUSIONS: Grants may be useful in diverting medical manpower. Further analysis and modeling are required to determine causal relationship and budgetary feasibility.
BACKGROUND: In an attempt to address severe medical manpower shortages in several medical disciplines, the Israeli Ministry of Health offered grants to residents who chose one of these fields. METHODS: A total of 220 residents from various disciplines were surveyed on demographic, academic, and professional data, and asked to rank considerations in the choice of their field of residency. RESULTS: Residents in targeted fields attributed significantly more importance to the grant in their decision-making process (U = 3704.5, p < 0.001). This effect remained significant in a multivariate model (OR 1.67, 95%CI 1.32-2.10, p < 0.001). Higher age (OR 1.15, 95%CI 1.01-1.31, p = 0.031) and attribution of significance to the working conditions compared to other residency fields (OR 1.69, 95%CI 1.23-2.32, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with receptivity toward the grant in a multivariate analysis. DISCUSSION: Receptivity toward the offered grants correlated with real-life data shows a rise in physician in these fields, and the weak association between such receptivity and most variables tested may suggest that the grants were perceived as a property of the specific choice rather than a special bonus. CONCLUSIONS: Grants may be useful in diverting medical manpower. Further analysis and modeling are required to determine causal relationship and budgetary feasibility.
Authors: Sari Mullola; Christian Hakulinen; Justin Presseau; David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras; Markus Jokela; Taina Hintsa; Marko Elovainio Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2018-03-27 Impact factor: 2.463