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Sales RK, Navarro MA. Early career researchers in health policy and systems research: insights from freelancers in a non-profit organization in the Philippines. Health Res Policy Syst 2024; 22:54. [PMID: 38685052 PMCID: PMC11059717 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-024-01142-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The freelance economy has seen rapid growth worldwide in recent years and the Philippines is not an exception. Freelance workers are becoming increasingly common in healthcare and research. Early career researchers carry out most of scientific research and can play a critical role in advancing public health by bringing new perspectives and diversity to the field. Existing literature has mostly focused on the experiences of early career researchers in an institutional academic setting. This study aimed to understand the experiences of freelance early career researchers in the health policy and systems space in the Philippines. METHODS This qualitative study collected data from 18 to 22 March 2022 through virtual interview and focus group discussions. Themes and codes were created based on the topic guide developed. New themes and codes were generated as they emerged. Two researchers coded the data using both a priori and emergent codes. Any coding conflicts were resolved through discussions until intercoder agreement was reached. Interpretation and conclusions from the data were developed by 2 researchers with consideration for its context and relationship between themes. RESULTS Fifteen current and former freelance researchers participated in the study. Most are female, under 35 years old, and with an undergraduate degree as the highest educational attainment. The findings highlight insights and challenges faced by early career researchers in aspects of: (1) work arrangement, (2) tasks, (3) expectations from senior researchers, (4) development in the health policy and systems field, (5) relationship with peers, and (6) motivations for continuing to work as a freelance health policy and systems researcher. CONCLUSION This study reveals the challenges freelance early career researchers face, highlighting the need for enhanced support and recognition amidst rapidly evolving workforce demands and complex health dilemmas. Recommendations include structured mentorship, professional development, innovative funding models, and the establishment of a supportive network. Advocacy for policies ensuring freelancer inclusion in the economy and policy-making is crucial. Future research should investigate their experiences further, including their roles, transitions, and the impacts of funding trends, to foster their development and integration into public health research and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reneepearl Kim Sales
- Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes, Veria 1 Building, 62 West Avenue, West Triangle, 1104, Quezon City, Philippines.
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Saijo Y, Yoshioka E, Sato Y, Kunori Y. Factors related to the resignation and migration of physicians in public health administration agencies using nationwide survey data in Japan. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1143. [PMID: 37875901 PMCID: PMC10599074 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10085-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physicians in public health administration agencies (public health physicians: PHP) play important roles in public health; however, there are not enough such physicians in Japan. This study aimed to elucidate the factors related to the resignation and migration of PHPs using nationwide survey data. METHODS Data from the Survey of Physicians, Dentists, and Pharmacists (2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016) were analyzed. The outcome was the resignation of PHPs or migration to public health administration agencies. The explanatory variables in the resignation analysis were age, sex, workplace, and board certification status. The type of work was added as an explanatory variable in the migration analysis, and clinical specialty was added to the clinical doctor-restricted analysis. The odds ratios (ORs) of the explanatory variables were calculated using generalized estimation equations. RESULTS In the resignation analysis among PHPs, women had a significantly lower OR, whereas younger PHPs and those with board certifications had significantly higher ORs. In the migration to public health administration agencies analysis among medical doctors, women and those aged between 35 and 39 years had significantly higher ORs, but those with board certifications had significantly lower ORs. Hospital/clinic founders or directors had significantly lower ORs, but the clinic staff and 'others/not working' had significantly higher ORs. In the migration to public health administration agencies analysis among clinical physicians, those aged between 35 and 39 years had significantly higher ORs. Still, those with two or more board certifications had significantly lower ORs. Hospital/clinic founders or directors had significantly lower ORs, but the clinic staff had significantly higher ORs. Clinical doctors specializing in surgery and other specialties had significantly lower ORs, but those specializing in pediatrics and psychiatry/psychosomatic medicine had significantly higher ORs. CONCLUSIONS Having board certifications were significantly related to the resignation of PHPs and migration to public health administration agencies. Women migrated to public health administration agencies more than men and younger PHPs were more likely to resign. However, medical doctors aged between 35 and 39 years were more likely to migrate to public health administration agencies. Similarly, clinic staff, non-clinical physicians, and those whose specialties were pediatrics and psychiatry/psychosomatic medicine were more likely to migrate to public health administration agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuaki Saijo
- Division of Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
- Division of Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-higashi 2-1-1-1 Asahikawa, 078-8510, Hokkaido, Japan.
| | - Eiji Yoshioka
- Division of Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Sato
- Division of Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Yuki Kunori
- Division of Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
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Houghton F. Reflections on the Multidisciplinary Health Force: much done, but more to do. J Public Health (Oxf) 2022; 44:i49-i53. [PMID: 36465040 PMCID: PMC9720366 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdac097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Houghton
- Technological University of the Shannon, Department of Applied Social Sciences, Limerick, Ireland
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Arnold L, Kellermann L, Fischer F, Hommes F, Jung L, Mohsenpour A, Stratil JM. How to Increase the Attractiveness of the Public Health Service in Germany as a Prospective Employer? Part II of the OeGD-Studisurvey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191811733. [PMID: 36142004 PMCID: PMC9517236 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The Public Health Service (PHS) in Germany has had difficulties in recruiting enough qualified staff for years, but there is limited research on what factors drive decisions to (not) join the PHS workforce. We explored reasons for this perceived (lack of) attractiveness. We conducted two cross-sectional surveys among medical students (MS), public health students and students from other PHS-relevant fields (PH&ONM) in Germany before (2019/2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021). Both waves surveyed self-reported reasons for why students did (not) consider working in the PHS as attractive and how this could be improved, using open-question items. Qualitative and quantitative content analyses were conducted according to Mayring. In total, 948 MS and 445 PH&ONM provided valid written responses. Reasons for considering the PHS as attractive were, among others, the perception of a good work-life balance, high impact, population health focus, and generally interesting occupations. Suggestions to increase attractiveness included reducing bureaucracy, modernization/digitalization, and more acknowledgement of non-medical professionals. Among MS, reasons against were too little clinical/patient-related activities, low salary, and occupations regarded as boring. Our findings indicate areas for improvement for image, working conditions in, and institutional structures of the PHS in Germany to increase its attractiveness as an employer among young professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Arnold
- Academy of Public Health Services, Kanzlerstraße 4, 40472 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute—CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6211 Maastricht, The Netherlands
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Kellermann
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Fischer
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
- Institute of Public Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Bavarian Research Center for Digital Health and Social Care, Kempten University of Applied Sciences, 87437 Kempten, Germany
| | - Franziska Hommes
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Jung
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Amir Mohsenpour
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
- Department of Population Medicine and Health Services Research, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
- Department for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Vitos Kurhessen Kassel, 34131 Kassel, Germany
| | - Jan M. Stratil
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
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Tiwari R, Negandhi H, Zodpey S. India's public health management cadre policy. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2022; 4:100053. [PMID: 37383994 PMCID: PMC10305881 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2022.100053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Tiwari
- School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Professional Workforce Development, Institute for Lifecourse Development, University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
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Sell K, Hommes F, Fischer F, Arnold L. Multi-, Inter-, and Transdisciplinarity within the Public Health Workforce: A Scoping Review to Assess Definitions and Applications of Concepts. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10902. [PMID: 36078616 PMCID: PMC9517885 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In light of the current public health challenges, calls for more inter- and transdisciplinarity in the public health workforce are increasing, particularly to respond to complex and intersecting health challenges, such as those presented by the climate crisis, emerging infectious diseases, or military conflict. Although widely used, it is unclear how the concepts of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity are applied with respect to the public health workforce. We conducted a scoping review and qualitative content analysis to provide an overview of how the concepts of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity are defined and applied in the academic literature about the public health workforce. Of the 1957 records identified, 324 articles were included in the review. Of those, 193, 176, and 53 mentioned the concepts of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity, respectively. Overall, 44 articles provided a definition. Whilst definitions of multidisciplinarity were scarce, definitions of inter- and transdisciplinarity were more common and richer, highlighting the aim of the collaboration and the blurring and dissolution of disciplinary boundaries. A better understanding of the application of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinarity is an important step to implementing these concepts in practice, including in institutional structures, academic curricula, and approaches in tackling public health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Sell
- Institute of Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, LMU Munich, Elisabeth-Winterhalter-Weg 6, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, 81377 Munich, Germany
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health (NÖG), 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Franziska Hommes
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health (NÖG), 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Fischer
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health (NÖG), 80539 Munich, Germany
- Institute of Public Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Bavarian Research Center of Digital Health and Social Care, Kempten University of Applied Sciences, Albert-Einstein-Straße 6, 87437 Kempten, Germany
| | - Laura Arnold
- German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health (NÖG), 80539 Munich, Germany
- Academy of Public Health Services, Kanzlerstraße 4, 40472 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute—CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6211 Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Schrecker T, Milne E. More uncertainty about public health and reducing inequalities. J Public Health (Oxf) 2018; 40:671-672. [PMID: 30590770 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdy212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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