Coghlan, Anna K. (2022) How Long do Allied Health Professionals in Public Health Service Positions Stay in Location in Regional, Rural and Remote Areas of Southern Queensland? Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Allied health services in rural and remote areas of Australia are in high demand. However, severe workforce shortages and high staff turnover limit access to these services. Knowing how long allied health professionals stay in a location following recruitment can improve the effectiveness of retention incentives and thereby reduce avoidable turnover. Such knowledge ultimately benefits patient care and staff morale and reduces recruitment costs. This study aimed to determine the length of stay in a location of various AHPs who worked with the Darling Downs and South West Hospital and Health Services between 1/01/2010 and 31/12/2021. Specifically, it reviewed 1487 records of 1257 physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians, occupational therapists, social workers, speech pathologists, pharmacists, podiatrists, and mental health clinicians. A survival analysis on workforce data revealed an overall median survival rate for the selected disciplines of 378 days. A multivariate Andersen-Gill Cox Regression analysis found that variables such as remoteness (measured using the Modified Monash Model), discipline, position type, age, and paygrade were associated with the risk of leaving; however, sex was not. Pinch points when the risk of leaving was greatest were identified, and recommendations were provided on when to target interventions to improve retention in a location. This study sets a revised baseline for future studies focusing on retention rates of AHPs and highlights the need to focus on locations.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Tony Fallon; Gavin Beccaria |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 15 May 2025 06:32 |
| Last Modified: | 15 May 2025 06:32 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | allied health professionals; retention; rural and remote health; survival analysis; workforce |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52215 |
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