title: Chinese primary care providers and motivating factors on performance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  China launched its new health care reform in 2009. One of its goals is to improve primary care system and strengthen primary care workforce. Although it has been studied internationally, motivating factors for primary care workforce have not been examined in China.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an overview of major performance motivating factors for primary care providers (PCPs) in China and examine associations between these factors and individual and practice setting characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for the study were from the 2011 China Primary Care Workforce Survey that provides the most current assessment of community-based PCPs. Outcome measures were scores indicating performance improvement due to 11 factors. Covariates representing personal and practice characteristics included age, gender, education, location, types of providers and specialties. Outcomes were compared by PCP category and urban/rural setting. Associations were assessed using logistic regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most important motivating factors for PCPs to improve performance were professional development, training opportunities, living environment, benefits, working conditions and income. There were greater needs for improvement in rural than urban settings, especially in living environment. Types of PCPs were associated with needs for improvement in different factors. There were more needs from nurses and village doctors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A new and comprehensive incentive mechanism could be designed and implemented in China, which (i) focuses on more professional development opportunities, enhanced training programs and better compensation and benefits and (ii) targets PCPs practicing in different settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospitality Management, Hungkuang University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Mei
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Leiyu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Haipeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Qingyue
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D014505:Urban Population; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Motivation; performance improvement; primary care; providers.