Retirement intentions of general practitioners aged 45–65 years

Retirement rates assume critical importance as the workforce progressively ages.1 A quarter of the Australian medical workforce is aged over 55 years,2 making premature retirement a major factor in workforce supply.3 Among health professional groups, general practitioners have traditionally been one of the latest retiring,3 but recent demographic changes1-3 and shifting discourses of professionalism4 have focused attention on the ability of GP supply to meet future demand.1-3,5 A key strategy to provide sufficient GP services is to minimise early retirement by maintaining senior, experienced doctors in the workforce until usual retirement age.3,5-7 This study examined the retirement intentions of a cohort of older Australian GPs and the reasons for these intentions.

Questionnaires were mailed to 478 GP members of four Western Australian Divisions of General Practice; three Divisions mailed them to GPs within the target age range, and one to all their GPs. Questionnaires were sent between November 2007 and January 2008 (6 months before the 2008 global financial crisis). To ensure participant anonymity, questionnaires were coded and mailed out by Division staff, but returned by participants to researchers; replies were anonymous. Ethics approval was gained from the University of Notre Dame Human Research Ethics Committee.

The 18-item questionnaire was a modified version of a questionnaire used for a similar survey of GPs in the United Kingdom.8 Questions were asked about GPs’ background (age, sex, year and country of graduation, vocational registration, Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners [FRACGP] or equivalent) and current work situation (practice size, sessions worked per week and whether home, nursing home or hostel visits were undertaken).

Tick-box options were provided for questions on current workload and intention to work to age 65 years. An open question was used to ascertain perceived obstacles to Australian general practice; participation in focus group discussion was made available. Prospective early retirees were asked their intended retirement age, and to provide reasons for early retirement and a list of incentives that might encourage them to continue working; they were given the opportunity to expand on the appeal of their listed incentives.

Responses were received from 281 GPs (59% response rate). Of these, 179 were within the 45–65 years age group, with one not practising, leaving a study population of 178 GPs. Focus group discussions were not undertaken, as 71% of respondents said they did not want to participate.

Box 1 shows study population demographics. Mean and median ages of the cohort were 52.4 (SD = 5.2) and 51 (inter-quartile range, 48–56) years, respectively. Sixty-nine per cent (95% CI, 61%–77%) of men worked eight or more sessions compared with 31% (95% CI, 19%–46%) of women (χ2 = 21.5; P < 0.001). Forty-seven per cent (95% CI, 40%–55%) and 49% (95% CI, 41%–56%) of GPs reported their workload to be too heavy and about right, respectively.

Sixty-three per cent (95% CI, 56%–71%) stated they intended to work in general practice at least until age 65 years and 6% (95% CI, 3%–11%) were unsure when they would retire. Seventy-five per cent (95% CI, 60%–86%) of women GPs compared with 59% (95% CI, 50%–68%) of men GPs said they would work to normal retirement age. There was a trend for men to be less likely to intend to work until at least 65 years than women (OR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.23%–1.02%; P = 0.06).

Percentage frequencies of reasons for retiring before age 65 years are shown in Box 2, A. The most commonly cited reasons were pressure of work, exhaustion and burnout (46%). Box 2, B shows the percentage frequencies of factors that might encourage working beyond chosen retirement age. The most enticing incentives for 46% of respondents were better remuneration, better staffing levels and more general support; 41% selected more flexible working hours, part-time work and reduced workload. Box 3 shows the percentage frequencies of what GPs considered obstacles to working in general practice. For 65%, increasing bureaucracy, poor job satisfaction and disillusionment with the medical system or Medicare were the most notable obstacles; 48% selected workforce shortage, increasing patient demands and diminishing lifestyle through overwork.

Australian GPs are starting to plan early retirement, reflecting an emerging trend among professionals and society generally.4,5,10-12 Of the 178 GPs surveyed, a third planned to retire before age 65 years, consistent with results of earlier research.1,7,12 Unlike the overall Australian population where women generally retire earlier than men,13 women GPs reported they were more likely to want to continue working to a later age than men. This is consistent with earlier UK research14 and may reflect, as noted by other authors,7 that women generally were more satisfied with their work than men — possibly because they were more likely to be working part-time. This result contrasts with the findings of an analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics census data for 1986, 1991, 1996 and 20013 and may indicate shifting demographics and the desire to achieve greater “work–life balance”4 in the Australian GP workforce in more recent years.

Consistent with overseas findings,4,6,7,12,15 diminishing job satisfaction, increasing bureaucracy, falling workforce numbers, excessive workload and a desire for more leisure time were recurrent themes throughout this study. Lack of job satisfaction links the other factors that motivate GPs to retire early. Authors of a UK study7 identified this factor as being amenable to intervention and pointed out that increasing the retention rate of GPs was a more cost-effective and immediate option than training new doctors.

As previously reported,7,12,15 the ever-changing governance of general practice brings discontent and contributes to “‘unhappy” doctors.16 Changes include the introduction of accreditation, care plans and health assessments, and increased bureaucracy.17 Older GPs find change difficult, and declining morale occurs partly because current medical practice is considerably different to that for which they were trained.7

What policy changes might encourage senior GPs to continue working? This study, as with previous research,7,12,16 shows a relationship between job satisfaction and remaining in the workforce. Measures such as encouraging men GPs to gradually reduce workloads, eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic demands, and improving financial rewards might increase job satisfaction.

A shortage of doctors in general practice will have repercussions at all levels of the health system. It will inevitably impede hospital efficiency1 and slow discharge of patients back to their communities. The continued involvement of experienced GPs in health care is critical,18 yet the opportunity to engage them may not last for long.

2 Responses to questions about retirement of participants who said they would not, or did not know if they would, work to the age of 65 years*

A. Please explain briefly why you are considering leaving before usual retirement age (n = 63)

B. What might encourage you to stay working until usual retirement age? (n = 61)

* Where more than one response was given by an individual participant, each response was coded and counted separately.

3 Responses of all participants who answered the question “What do you see as the obstacles to general practice in Australia?” (n = 169)*

* Where more than one response was given by an individual participant, each response was coded and counted separately.