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How to Increase the Attractiveness of the Public Health Service in Germany as a Prospective Employer? Part II of the OeGD-Studisurvey

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  • Laura Arnold

    (Academy of Public Health Services, Kanzlerstraße 4, 40472 Duesseldorf, Germany
    Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute—CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6211 Maastricht, The Netherlands
    German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany)

  • Lisa Kellermann

    (German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany)

  • Florian Fischer

    (German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
    Institute of Public Health, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
    Bavarian Research Center for Digital Health and Social Care, Kempten University of Applied Sciences, 87437 Kempten, Germany)

  • Franziska Hommes

    (German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany)

  • Laura Jung

    (German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Amir Mohsenpour

    (German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany
    Department of Population Medicine and Health Services Research, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
    Department for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Vitos Kurhessen Kassel, 34131 Kassel, Germany)

  • Jan M. Stratil

    (German Network of Young Professionals in Public Health, 80539 Munich, Germany)

Abstract

The Public Health Service (PHS) in Germany has had difficulties in recruiting enough qualified staff for years, but there is limited research on what factors drive decisions to (not) join the PHS workforce. We explored reasons for this perceived (lack of) attractiveness. We conducted two cross-sectional surveys among medical students (MS), public health students and students from other PHS-relevant fields (PH&ONM) in Germany before (2019/2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021). Both waves surveyed self-reported reasons for why students did (not) consider working in the PHS as attractive and how this could be improved, using open-question items. Qualitative and quantitative content analyses were conducted according to Mayring. In total, 948 MS and 445 PH&ONM provided valid written responses. Reasons for considering the PHS as attractive were, among others, the perception of a good work-life balance, high impact, population health focus, and generally interesting occupations. Suggestions to increase attractiveness included reducing bureaucracy, modernization/digitalization, and more acknowledgement of non-medical professionals. Among MS, reasons against were too little clinical/patient-related activities, low salary, and occupations regarded as boring. Our findings indicate areas for improvement for image, working conditions in, and institutional structures of the PHS in Germany to increase its attractiveness as an employer among young professionals.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Arnold & Lisa Kellermann & Florian Fischer & Franziska Hommes & Laura Jung & Amir Mohsenpour & Jan M. Stratil, 2022. "How to Increase the Attractiveness of the Public Health Service in Germany as a Prospective Employer? Part II of the OeGD-Studisurvey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-47, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11733-:d:917463
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Osnat Bashkin & Keren Dopelt & Zohar Mor & Lore Leighton & Robert Otok & Mariusz Duplaga & Fiona MacLeod & Jascha De Nooijer & Yehuda Neumark & Stephanie Paillard-Borg & Theodore Tulchinsky & Shira Ze, 2021. "The Future Public Health Workforce in a Changing World: A Conceptual Framework for a European–Israeli Knowledge Transfer Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-9, September.
    2. Katica Tripković & Milena Šantrić-Milićević & Milena Vasić & Mirjana Živković-Šulović & Marina Odalović & Vesna Mijatović-Jovanović & Zoran Bukumirić, 2021. "Factors Associated with Intention of Serbian Public Health Workers to Leave the Job: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
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