title: Factors influencing physicians' choice of workplace: systematic review of drivers of attrition and policy interventions to address them.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The movement of skilled physicians from the public to the private sector is a key constraint to achieving universal health coverage and is currently affecting health systems worldwide. This systematic review aims to assess factors influencing physicians' choice of workplace, and policy interventions for retaining physicians in the public sector.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five literature databases were searched. Studies were included in the review if they focused on at least one of the following criteria: (i) incentives or motivators for retaining physicians in the public sector, (ii) pull factors that encouraged physicians to move to the private sector, (iii) push factors that forced physicians to leave the public sector, (iv) policy interventions or case studies that addressed physician retention in the public sector, and (v) qualitative reviews of policy interventions that were implemented in different health system settings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Six major themes that affected physicians' choice of workplace were identified including: financial incentives, career development, infrastructure and staffing, professional work environment, workload and autonomy. The majority of the studies suggested that the use of financial incentives was a motivator in retaining physicians in the public sector. The review also identified policy interventions including: regulatory controls, incentives and management reforms. Regulatory controls and incentives were the two most frequently reported policy interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While factors affecting physicians' choice of workplace are country specific, financial incentives and professional development are core factors. Other factors are highly influenced by context, and thus, it would be useful for future cross-country research to use standardized data collection tools, allowing comparison of contextual factors as well as the examination of how context affects physician retention in the public sector.
authors.affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston MA, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Koussa
authors.affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston MA, USA.
authors.forename: Rifat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atun
authors.affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston MA, USA; The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bowser
authors.affiliation: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston MA, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kruk
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D010820:Physicians; D057766:Policy; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D017132:Workplace