Administrators' perspective of the challenges in recruiting and retaining psychiatrists for New Zealand: A national study

Abstract

Objective: Administrators' perceptions of significant factors that might affect the recruitment and retention of psychiatrists for New Zealand's public mental health Services have not been previously investigated. Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to managers of all 21 of New Zealand's mental health Services. The questionnaire requesting information about any difficulties managers experienced in recruiting and retaining psychiatrists, factors they thought attract psychiatrists to join and stay, reasons why psychiatrists left, strategies they had tried to alleviate any psychiatrist shortages, and their relative success. Results: Responses were received from 3 of 8 metropolitan Services and 8 of 13 nonmetropolitan Services. Every service had experienced problems in recruiting and retaining psychiatrists over the past 5 years. New Zealand's general shortage of psychiatrists and limitations on recreational activities available in their area were reasons unanimously held to account for this. Factors unanimously identified as significant in influencing psychiatrists to join a mental health service were lifestyle, professional opportunities, functional multidisciplinary teams, and adequate staffing and training activities. Factors unanimously identified in retaining psychiatrists were levels of professional satisfaction, a reasonable on-call roster, functional multidisciplinary teams, adequate resources, and the ability to practise safely and within their area of expertise. There was no unanimity as to why psychiatrists would leave a service. Every service which attempted to assist psychiatrists with their relocation, and which found locums to cover so that they could take leave when they wanted, reported that these strategies had been wholly or partially successful in alleviating their psychiatrist shortage. Conclusions: Administrators' perspectives (which are often different to those of psychiatrists) about factors affecting recruitment and retention are worth investigating.