Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC): an interview study
Abstract Background Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC) are a growing concern due to the shortage of healthcare professionals, outmigration, and inadequate measures to address the retirement of family doctors. This has led to significant fluctuations in the numb...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Human Resources for Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-025-00985-6 |
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| author | Simona Ciotlăuș Marius Ionuț Ungureanu Florin Oprescu |
| author_facet | Simona Ciotlăuș Marius Ionuț Ungureanu Florin Oprescu |
| author_sort | Simona Ciotlăuș |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC) are a growing concern due to the shortage of healthcare professionals, outmigration, and inadequate measures to address the retirement of family doctors. This has led to significant fluctuations in the number of OOH-PC centres across the country. To address the existing knowledge gaps regarding the OOH-PC services, this study aimed to explore the challenges faced by healthcare workers in after-hours care. Methods A qualitative approach was used to gather insights from 14 healthcare professionals, including family doctors, nurses, representatives of professional associations, emergency doctors, and paediatricians. Through thematically analyzed in-depth semi-structured interviews, the researchers examined the working conditions in OOH-PC in Romania from the perspective of healthcare workers. Results Data analysis yielded five key themes related to adverse working conditions in OOH-PC: working hours and shift length, increasing workload and patient influx, obstacles to achieving work–life balance, inconveniences related to OOH center premises (rest space, security), and insufficient financial compensation for after-hours health service provision. Conclusions In the context of systemic changes in the Romanian health system, this article provides valuable information on the current working conditions of primary care health workers in OOH care. It highlights the importance of improving working conditions to attract and retain healthcare professionals in OOH-PC. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-083148d3eacf4b59a8a4e5a2f16cbbf3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1478-4491 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human Resources for Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-083148d3eacf4b59a8a4e5a2f16cbbf32025-08-20T03:46:00ZengBMCHuman Resources for Health1478-44912025-07-0123111410.1186/s12960-025-00985-6Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC): an interview studySimona Ciotlăuș0Marius Ionuț Ungureanu1Florin Oprescu2Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and PharmacyBabeș-Bolyai University Cluj-NapocaUniversity of the Sunshine CoastAbstract Background Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC) are a growing concern due to the shortage of healthcare professionals, outmigration, and inadequate measures to address the retirement of family doctors. This has led to significant fluctuations in the number of OOH-PC centres across the country. To address the existing knowledge gaps regarding the OOH-PC services, this study aimed to explore the challenges faced by healthcare workers in after-hours care. Methods A qualitative approach was used to gather insights from 14 healthcare professionals, including family doctors, nurses, representatives of professional associations, emergency doctors, and paediatricians. Through thematically analyzed in-depth semi-structured interviews, the researchers examined the working conditions in OOH-PC in Romania from the perspective of healthcare workers. Results Data analysis yielded five key themes related to adverse working conditions in OOH-PC: working hours and shift length, increasing workload and patient influx, obstacles to achieving work–life balance, inconveniences related to OOH center premises (rest space, security), and insufficient financial compensation for after-hours health service provision. Conclusions In the context of systemic changes in the Romanian health system, this article provides valuable information on the current working conditions of primary care health workers in OOH care. It highlights the importance of improving working conditions to attract and retain healthcare professionals in OOH-PC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-025-00985-6Health workforceWorking conditionsOOH-PC service delivery |
| spellingShingle | Simona Ciotlăuș Marius Ionuț Ungureanu Florin Oprescu Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC): an interview study Human Resources for Health Health workforce Working conditions OOH-PC service delivery |
| title | Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC): an interview study |
| title_full | Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC): an interview study |
| title_fullStr | Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC): an interview study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC): an interview study |
| title_short | Adverse working conditions in Romanian out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC): an interview study |
| title_sort | adverse working conditions in romanian out of hours primary care ooh pc an interview study |
| topic | Health workforce Working conditions OOH-PC service delivery |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-025-00985-6 |
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