Job preferences of master public health candidates in Northeast China based on discrete choice experiments

Abstract Background The shortage of health workers in rural and remote areas is a key issue for global health systems, including China. Public health undertakings in Northeast China face the risk of a talent gap. In September 2023, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) held a symposi...

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Main Authors: Huaizhi Cheng, Ruotong Tian, Dongquan Chen, Jiesen Shang, Lingxiao Gao, Xiaoyu Dong, Bin Guo, Guoxiang Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-10-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11810-6
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author Huaizhi Cheng
Ruotong Tian
Dongquan Chen
Jiesen Shang
Lingxiao Gao
Xiaoyu Dong
Bin Guo
Guoxiang Liu
author_facet Huaizhi Cheng
Ruotong Tian
Dongquan Chen
Jiesen Shang
Lingxiao Gao
Xiaoyu Dong
Bin Guo
Guoxiang Liu
author_sort Huaizhi Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The shortage of health workers in rural and remote areas is a key issue for global health systems, including China. Public health undertakings in Northeast China face the risk of a talent gap. In September 2023, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) held a symposium on promoting the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China in the New Era, proposing to support the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China with high-quality population development, strengthen the development and utilization of human resources, and increase policy support for the revitalization of talent. Methods The questionnaire was designed by discrete choice experiments, and 1208 Public Health Master’s candidates from six universities in Northeast China were investigated online via the Powercx system network survey platform in April 2024. The mixed logit model was used to analyze the job preferences of Master Public Health candidates. Results All 7 attributes included in the study had statistically significant effects on the job preferences of public health master’s degree candidates (P < 0.05). They tended to choose jobs with higher monthly income (12,000 CNY/month), located in cities with good working environments and with Bianzhi when seeking jobs. There is heterogeneity in job preference, and different preference characteristics are displayed in different subgroups. Conclusion This study revealed that public health master’s degree candidates in Northeast China were more willing to choose jobs with higher monthly incomes, working places in cities and better working environments. The way to formulate a combination of policy packages is more attractive than improving a single aspect alone. Since the preferences of each subgroup are different, the preference characteristics of the target population should also be considered when formulating the policy package to meet the challenges of talent attraction and retention.
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spelling doaj-art-b06f6d93018c460583e3d6b7fffef3a82025-08-20T02:18:19ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-10-0124111210.1186/s12913-024-11810-6Job preferences of master public health candidates in Northeast China based on discrete choice experimentsHuaizhi Cheng0Ruotong Tian1Dongquan Chen2Jiesen Shang3Lingxiao Gao4Xiaoyu Dong5Bin Guo6Guoxiang Liu7Harbin Medical University-DaqingHarbin Medical University-DaqingQuanzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese medicineZhongshan Hospital, Xiamen UniversityHarbin Medical University-DaqingHarbin Medical University-DaqingHarbin Medical University-DaqingSchool of Health Management, Harbin Medical UniversityAbstract Background The shortage of health workers in rural and remote areas is a key issue for global health systems, including China. Public health undertakings in Northeast China face the risk of a talent gap. In September 2023, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) held a symposium on promoting the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China in the New Era, proposing to support the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China with high-quality population development, strengthen the development and utilization of human resources, and increase policy support for the revitalization of talent. Methods The questionnaire was designed by discrete choice experiments, and 1208 Public Health Master’s candidates from six universities in Northeast China were investigated online via the Powercx system network survey platform in April 2024. The mixed logit model was used to analyze the job preferences of Master Public Health candidates. Results All 7 attributes included in the study had statistically significant effects on the job preferences of public health master’s degree candidates (P < 0.05). They tended to choose jobs with higher monthly income (12,000 CNY/month), located in cities with good working environments and with Bianzhi when seeking jobs. There is heterogeneity in job preference, and different preference characteristics are displayed in different subgroups. Conclusion This study revealed that public health master’s degree candidates in Northeast China were more willing to choose jobs with higher monthly incomes, working places in cities and better working environments. The way to formulate a combination of policy packages is more attractive than improving a single aspect alone. Since the preferences of each subgroup are different, the preference characteristics of the target population should also be considered when formulating the policy package to meet the challenges of talent attraction and retention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11810-6Discrete choice experimentsHealthcareJob preferencesMaster candidateRecruitment and retention
spellingShingle Huaizhi Cheng
Ruotong Tian
Dongquan Chen
Jiesen Shang
Lingxiao Gao
Xiaoyu Dong
Bin Guo
Guoxiang Liu
Job preferences of master public health candidates in Northeast China based on discrete choice experiments
BMC Health Services Research
Discrete choice experiments
Healthcare
Job preferences
Master candidate
Recruitment and retention
title Job preferences of master public health candidates in Northeast China based on discrete choice experiments
title_full Job preferences of master public health candidates in Northeast China based on discrete choice experiments
title_fullStr Job preferences of master public health candidates in Northeast China based on discrete choice experiments
title_full_unstemmed Job preferences of master public health candidates in Northeast China based on discrete choice experiments
title_short Job preferences of master public health candidates in Northeast China based on discrete choice experiments
title_sort job preferences of master public health candidates in northeast china based on discrete choice experiments
topic Discrete choice experiments
Healthcare
Job preferences
Master candidate
Recruitment and retention
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11810-6
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