Prevalence and associated factors of the career plateau of primary care providers in Heilongjiang, China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Primary care providers are pillars of China’s medical and health sectors. However, due to the gap between career expectations and reality, they enter a career plateau phase through excessive pressure. This study aims to examine the prevalence and associated factors of the career plateau of primary care providers in Heilongjiang Province, China, and proposes strategies to improve and promote their career advancement. Methods Based on city-level GDP growth in the province, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 1500 primary care providers (effective response rate = 85.8%). Pearson’s chi-square analysis and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the factors associated with their career plateau. Results The prevalence rate of career plateau was 61.8% among primary care provider respondents. The factors associated with a career plateau included having a spouse (OR = 1.394, 95%CI = 1.056–1.839), working more than 40 h per week (OR = 1.473, 95%CI = 1.146–1.893); working for 11–20 years (OR = 1.607, 95%CI = 1.150–2.246); working for more than 20 years (OR = 2.818, 95%CI = 1.938–4.097); having an average monthly income of 3001–4000 yuan (OR = 1.886, 95%CI = 1.197–2.969) or 4001–5000 yuan (OR = 2.104, 95%CI = 1.256–3.524); and reporting unsatisfactory or very unsatisfactory sleep quality (OR = 1.838, 95%CI = 1.317–2.567). Conclusions Primary care providers in Heilongjiang Province face a high career plateau, with marital status, weekly working hours, number of years employed, monthly average income, and sleep quality considered associated factors. To eliminate negative factors of the career plateau, it is necessary to provide support to primary care providers in four domains: individual, organisation, society, and policy.

Primary care provider's job satisfaction and organizational commitment after COVID-19 restrictions ended: A mixed-method study using a mediation model

“…Both results showed a slightly lower level of job satisfaction than ours. Liu believed that medical worker in China took full responsibility for patients' wellbeing and overcame various difficulties through their resilience and the spirit of professional dedication (Liu et al, 2020). We also observed the same experience in our research.…”

“…While the burden on primary care providers' shoulders was not released, because there were many extra works, including: (1) identifying the residents with fever and providing basic healthcare services; (2) managing and quarantining the floating population; (3) health education and campaigns; and (4) help local governments and CDCs to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (Fu et al, 2020 ; Nation Health Commission, 2020 ; Pan et al, 2020 ; Wuhan Government, 2020 ; Xiong et al, 2020 ). Primary care providers are employees working in primary care institutes and provide primary health services to local residents, like prevention, rehabilitation, diagnosis and treatment of common and frequently occurring diseases, and health education (Liu et al, 2021 ). Some of them may also undertake administrative works, since specialized administrators and managers are very rare in Chinese primary care institute (Hao et al, 2022 ).…”

Impact of Job Satisfaction and Social Support on Job Performance Among Primary Care Providers in Northeast China: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This affects employees' enthusiasm to a certain extent, and the phenomenon of brain drain is common ( 8 ). Therefore, strengthening research on primary care providers and eliminating the negative effects of professional plateau is of great practical significance for promoting primary care providers' careers ( 9 ).…”

Retracted: Formalizing the use of training methods in developing a career path

“…Crises of professional development are defined as short‐term (up to a year) periods of cardinal restructuring of consciousness, activity, and behavior of an individual, which lead to a reorientation to new goals, correction and revision of social and professional position, a change in the ways of performing activities, relations with others, and in some cases—to a change of profession (Liu et al, 2021). The main signs of crises are as follows (Fournier et al, 2011): due to imbalance, disorganization or loss of personal ties with the professional environment and work; initiated by external circumstances or by the person themselves; are described by changes in psychological well‐being, often in social, professional, and material status; accompanied by a state of mental tension and deep emotional experiences. …”