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Wen-Chen Tsai, Department of Health Services Management, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Rd., Taichung, 404, Taiwan, 886-425603149, wtsai@mail.cmu.edu.tw and Pei-Tseng Kung, Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, 500 Lioufeng Rd., Wufeng, Taichung, 413, Taiwan.

Objective: This study was to investigate the rural physicians' and dentists' personal characteristics, motives of practice, satisfaction, and difficulties they faced in Taiwan. Furthermore, the associated factors with their interruption to practice in rural areas were examined to provide references for future policy. Methods: The physicians and dentists who participated in promotion program for practicing in rural areas from 2002 to 2005 were selected for investigation. The structured questionnaires were mailed to all physicians and dentists who used to provide or now provide medical services in rural areas. A total of 102 physicians (50% return rate) and 222 dentists (44% return rate) answered the questionnaires. The associated factors with their interruption of providing services were also investigated. In addition to descriptive statistics, the logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the significant factors related to the interruption of medical services. Results: The satisfaction of physicians and dentists on practice in rural areas were 22.37% and 19.56%. The major reason of physicians providing medical services in rural areas was “giving services to the general public”, “low competition in rural areas”, and “like country-style life”. The major reasons of physicians' and dentists' unwillingness to practice in rural areas were “children's education problems” and “dissatisfaction with the rural environments”, and “dissatisfaction with income”. The difference of gender and age on physicians and dentists' satisfaction in rural areas were not statistically significant. After controlling for other variables, the significant factors associated with the interruption of practice in rural areas were “dissatisfaction with the income” and “practice in rural areas for retirement”. Approximate 56% of physicians and 69% of dentists have strong willingness to keep practicing in rural areas. Conclusions: Both “economic factor” and “working environments” were the major factors affecting physicians and dentists to practice in rural areas. Therefore, increasing providers' payment is the feasible method to enhance physicians to practice in the rural areas.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.To understand the motives of physicians and dentists to practice in rural areas.
• 2.To know the satisfaction physicians feel and difficulties physicians face in rural areas.
• 3.To identify the related factors affecting physicians and dentists to interrupt their practice in rural areas.

Keywords: Rural Health Service Providers, Rural Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered