Using the theory of reasoned action to model retention in rural primary care physicians.
BACKGROUND
Much research attention has focused on medical students', residents', and physicians' decisions to join a rural practice, but far fewer studies have examined retention of rural primary care physicians.


OBJECTIVE
The current review uses Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to organize the literature on the predictors and correlates of retention of rural practicing physicians. TRA suggests turnover behavior is directly predicted by one's turnover intentions, which are, in turn, predicted by one's attitudes about rural practice and perceptions of salient others' (eg, spouse's) attitudes about rural practice and rural living.


METHODS
Narrative literature review of scholarship in predicting and understanding predictors and correlates of rural physician retention.


RESULTS
The TRA model provides a useful conceptual model to organize the literature on rural physician retention. Physicians' subjective norms regarding rural practice are an important source of influence in the decision to remain or leave one's position, and this relation should be more fully examined in future research.
Feeley
Thomas Hugh
TH
Dept of Family Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 462 Grider St, CC Building, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA. thfeeley@buffalo.edu
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002755:Choice Behavior; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce