Australian academic primary health-care careers: a scoping survey.
This study was undertaken to provide a snapshot of the academic primary health-care workforce in Australia and to provide some insight into research capacity in academic primary health care following changes to funding for this sector. A convenience sample of individuals self-identifying as working within academic primary health care (n=405) completed an anonymous online survey. Respondents were identified from several academic primary health-care mailing lists. The survey explored workforce demographics, clarity of career pathways, career trajectories and enablers/barriers to 'getting in' and 'getting on'. A mix of early career (41%), mid-career (25%) and senior academics (35%) responded. Early career academics tended to be female and younger than mid-career and senior academics, who tended to be male and working in 'balanced' (teaching and research) roles and listing medicine as their disciplinary background. Almost three-quarters (74%) indicated career pathways were either 'completely' or 'somewhat unclear', irrespective of gender and disciplinary backgrounds. Just over half (51%) had a permanent position. Males were more likely to have permanent positions, as were those with a medical background. Less than half (43%) reported having a mentor, and of the 57% without a mentor, more than two-thirds (69%) would like one. These results suggest a lack of clarity in career paths, uncertainty in employment and a large number of temporary (contract) or casual positions represent barriers to sustainable careers in academic primary health care, especially for women who are from non-medicine backgrounds. Professional development or a mentoring program for primary health-care academics was desired and may address some of the issues identified by survey respondents.
Social Health Sciences Unit, School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, SA 5042, Australia.
Christopher
C
Barton
Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Psychology Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom.
Joanne
J
Reeve
Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.
Ann
A
Adams
Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (PHCRIS), School of Medicine, Flinders University, SA 5042, Australia.
Ellen
E
McIntyre
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce