Physicians mobility in family medicine practice: Example of Tokat province

Abstract

Physicians’ mobility in family medicine practice: Example of Tokat province Introduction: In Tokat province in 2010 August Family Medicine Practice (FMP) was started with 164 family physicians (FP). In course of time, empty locations that occurred because of appointment, military service, giving birth or physicians own requests. Additional replacements were made for empty and/or new positions at regular intervals. It was aimed to evaluate the newcomer, transposition and leaving the system physicians of FMP in Tokat province. Materials and Methods: 40 additional replacements were made from the beginning of FMP to this study which is 2015 January. For this descriptive study, the list of FP which is updated each month was obtained retrospectively. Results: From August 2010 to January 2015, only 48.2% (n=79) of FP had remained at the same location. In this period, 94 FP joined in the FMP, 99 FP changed their locations, 84 FP left the FMP. At the initial situation, the average age of physicians was 38.3 ± 8.0 years, 71.6% were male and 6.1% were family medicine specialists and at the last situation, the average age of the physicians is 40.5 ± 8.7 years, 72.2% are male and 7.3% are family medicine specialists. There was significant difference in mean age of physicians from beginning to this study (p