Context Matters: A Realist Approach to Rural Physician Recruitment and Retention

Background: Family physician shortages are a significant challenge impacting healthcare delivery in rural and remote areas of Saskatchewan (SK), Canada. To address this challenge, a multidisciplinary team of researchers, patient partners, clinicians, and policymakers has been assembled to complete a realist evaluation of family physician recruitment and retention programs in SK. The overall goal of this project is to produce actionable evidence to inform current initiatives and promote future strategies that successfully recruit and retain family physicians in rural and remote communities. As part of the evaluation, a literature review of regional, national, and international sources was completed to aid the development of initial program theories (IPTs). Key informant interviews with family physicians, health system leaders, and community members supplemented the literature review data to enhance the IPTs.

Audience: This workshop will interest researchers, patient partners, clinicians, and policy makers who are challenged by family physician recruitment and retention issues in rural and remote areas.

Approach: In this 90-minute workshop, three members of the evaluation team (a patient partner, a researcher, and a trainee) will engage participants in small-group discussions to confirm, refute, and refine IPTs about successful family physician recruitment and retention. Small-group discussion will be recorded and incorporated into the remainder of the evaluation. Consent will be obtained from participants. Outline of the workshop activities and timing:

• Introduction to the Saskatchewan context (5 minutes) and overview of the evaluation (10 minutes)
• Presentation of IPTs (15 minutes)
• Small group discussion – confirm, refute, refine IPTs (30 minutes)
• Group reporting and feedback (15 minutes)
• Session summary and final comments/questions (15 minutes)

Outcomes: The primary outcome of this workshop will be the co-production of a conceptual framework for understanding how, why, under what circumstances, and to what extent family physicians are recruited and retained in rural and remote SK. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate on healthcare workforce challenges while providing examples of successful strategies. Overall, outcomes from this workshop will impact health system recruitment and retention by contributing to the development of evidence-informed policies and integrated workforce solutions.