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Table 2 Characteristics of included studies

From: Recruitment and retention of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rural regions: a meta-synthesis

 

Context / Setting

Definition of rural

Sample

Characteristics of rural practice / rural practitioners

Bent 1999

Central Australia

Central Australia, Northern Territory considered to be remote

17 OTs, PTs, SLP; excluded private practice, management or consultants

Large clinical caseloads, large geographical area, variety of age groups and conditions

Butler & Sheppard 1999

Australia

Rural defined as < 25000

58 PTs graduated within 2 years; (18 in rural and 40 in metropolitan areas)

More likely to be sole charge, less professional support, greater role as educator

Mills & Millsteed 2002

Australia

Broad definitions cited and used

10 OTs previously in rural practice; purposive sample and snowball

Breadth and depth of professional knowledge gained useful in all areas/settings of practice

Lee & MacKenzie 2003

New South Wales, Australia

Classification based on density and distance

5 OT new graduates, (4 in public practice and 1 in private)

Varied caseload, limited resources, limited support, greater interactions with clients and integration into community, professionals require independence & self-confidence

Denman & Shaddock 2004

New South Wales, Australia

Work location > 1 hour drive from a metropolitan region (<250,000)

Focus group of 1 OT, 2,PT, 2 SLP; 31, surveys returned from 9 OTs, 7 PTs, 13 SLP. Interviews with 1 SLP, 2 mangers working in departments providing disabilities services

None given

Steenbergen & MacKenzie 2004

New South Wales, Australia

Participants decided

9 OTs in 1st year practice in rural; (7 public and 2 private sector)

None given

Devine 2006

Australia

Australian accessibility remote index

6 OTs newly graduated; 4 OT instructors

Greater need for management skills, prioritization, time management

Gillham et al 2007

Victoria, Australia

Classification based on density and distance

8 allied health profession students, 7 managers, 18 allied health professionals and 10 former staff; all public sector

None given

Thomas & Clarke 2007

Northern Territory, Australia

None given

18 AHP including OTs and PTs

Skills and attributes for rural practice: being organized, creative, flexible, cooperative and collaborative, cultural awareness, communication, resourceful, reflective learner, networking, dual roles and responsibility

Boshoff & Hartshorne 2008

South Australia, Australia

Combined use of terms country and rural, no definitions

18 OT managers completed Questionnaire; majority public sector

Multi-skilling of therapists, problem solving,

Le & Kilpatrick 2008

Australia

None given

6 overseas born Australian trained health care professionals including 1 PT

None given

Manahan et al 2009

British Columbia, Canada

Broad definitions cited and used

6 AHP including: 6 SLP, 4 OTs, 4 PTs; no indication whether public or private sector

Variety, change, dual relationships, challenges, need for creativity