There is a gap between healthcare workforce research and decision-making in policy and practice. This matters more than ever given the urgent staffing crisis. As a national research network, we held the first ever United Kingdom (UK) forum on healthcare workforce evidence in March 2023. This paper summarises outputs of the event including an emerging UK healthcare workforce agenda and actions to build research capacity and bridge the gap between academics and decisionmakers. The forum brought together over 80 clinical and system leaders, policymakers and regulators with workforce researchers. Fifteen sessions convened by leading experts combined knowledge exchange with deliberative dialogue over 2 days. Topics ranged from workforce analytics, forecasting, international migration to interprofessional working. In the small groups that were convened, important gaps were identified in both the existing research body and uptake of evidence already available. There had not been enough high quality evaluations of recent workforce initiatives implemented at pace, from virtual wards to e-rostering. The pandemic had accelerated many changes in skillmix and professional roles with little learning from other countries and systems. Existing research was often small-scale or focused on individual, rather than organisational solutions in areas such as staff wellbeing. In terms of existing research, managers were often unaware of accepted high quality evidence in areas like the relationship between registered nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes. More work is needed to engage new disciplines from labour economics and occupational health to academic human resources and to strengthen the emerging diverse community of healthcare workforce researchers.
{"title":"Developing the future research agenda for the health and social care workforce in the United Kingdom: Findings from a national forum for policymakers and researchers","authors":"Tara Lamont, Cat Chatfield, Kieran Walshe","doi":"10.1002/hpm.3775","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpm.3775","url":null,"abstract":"<p>There is a gap between healthcare workforce research and decision-making in policy and practice. This matters more than ever given the urgent staffing crisis. As a national research network, we held the first ever United Kingdom (UK) forum on healthcare workforce evidence in March 2023. This paper summarises outputs of the event including an emerging UK healthcare workforce agenda and actions to build research capacity and bridge the gap between academics and decisionmakers. The forum brought together over 80 clinical and system leaders, policymakers and regulators with workforce researchers. Fifteen sessions convened by leading experts combined knowledge exchange with deliberative dialogue over 2 days. Topics ranged from workforce analytics, forecasting, international migration to interprofessional working. In the small groups that were convened, important gaps were identified in both the existing research body and uptake of evidence already available. There had not been enough high quality evaluations of recent workforce initiatives implemented at pace, from virtual wards to e-rostering. The pandemic had accelerated many changes in skillmix and professional roles with little learning from other countries and systems. Existing research was often small-scale or focused on individual, rather than organisational solutions in areas such as staff wellbeing. In terms of existing research, managers were often unaware of accepted high quality evidence in areas like the relationship between registered nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes. More work is needed to engage new disciplines from labour economics and occupational health to academic human resources and to strengthen the emerging diverse community of healthcare workforce researchers.</p>","PeriodicalId":47637,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Health Planning and Management","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hpm.3775","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139703716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tara Tancred, Michelle Falkenbach, Joanna Raven, Margaret Caffrey
Inadequate numbers, maldistribution, attrition, and inadequate skill-mix are widespread health and care workforce (HCWF) challenges. Intersectoral—inclusive of different government sectors, non-state actors, and the private sector—collaboration and action are foundational to the development of a responsive and sustainable HCWF. This review presents evidence on how to work across sectors to educate, recruit, and retain a sustainable HCWF, highlighting examples of the benefits and challenges of intersectoral collaboration. We carried out a scoping review of scientific and grey literature with inclusion criteria around intersectoral governance and mechanisms for the HCWF. A framework analysis to identify and collate factors linked to the education, recruitment, and retention of the HCWF was carried out. Fifty-six documents were included. We identified a wide array of recommendations for intersectoral activity to support the education, recruitment, and retention of the HCWF. For HCWF education: formalise intersectoral decision-making bodies; align HCWF education with population health needs; expand training capacity; engage and regulate private sector training; seek international training opportunities and support; and innovate in training by leveraging digital technologies. For HCWF recruitment: ensure there is intersectoral clarity and cooperation; ensure bilateral agreements are ethical; carry out data-informed recruitment; and learn from COVID-19 about mobilising the domestic workforce. For HCWF retention: innovate around available staff, especially where staff are scarce; improve working and employment conditions; and engage the private sector. Political will and commensurate investment must underscore any intersectoral collaboration for the HCWF.
{"title":"How can intersectoral collaboration and action help improve the education, recruitment, and retention of the health and care workforce? A scoping review","authors":"Tara Tancred, Michelle Falkenbach, Joanna Raven, Margaret Caffrey","doi":"10.1002/hpm.3773","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpm.3773","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Inadequate numbers, maldistribution, attrition, and inadequate skill-mix are widespread health and care workforce (HCWF) challenges. Intersectoral—inclusive of different government sectors, non-state actors, and the private sector—collaboration and action are foundational to the development of a responsive and sustainable HCWF. This review presents evidence on how to work across sectors to educate, recruit, and retain a sustainable HCWF, highlighting examples of the benefits and challenges of intersectoral collaboration. We carried out a scoping review of scientific and grey literature with inclusion criteria around intersectoral governance and mechanisms for the HCWF. A framework analysis to identify and collate factors linked to the education, recruitment, and retention of the HCWF was carried out. Fifty-six documents were included. We identified a wide array of recommendations for intersectoral activity to support the education, recruitment, and retention of the HCWF. For HCWF education: formalise intersectoral decision-making bodies; align HCWF education with population health needs; expand training capacity; engage and regulate private sector training; seek international training opportunities and support; and innovate in training by leveraging digital technologies. For HCWF recruitment: ensure there is intersectoral clarity and cooperation; ensure bilateral agreements are ethical; carry out data-informed recruitment; and learn from COVID-19 about mobilising the domestic workforce. For HCWF retention: innovate around available staff, especially where staff are scarce; improve working and employment conditions; and engage the private sector. Political will and commensurate investment must underscore any intersectoral collaboration for the HCWF.</p>","PeriodicalId":47637,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Health Planning and Management","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hpm.3773","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139698636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yvonne Zurynski, Georgia Fisher, Shalini Wijekulasuriya, Elle Leask, Putu Novi Arfirsta Dharmayani, Louise A. Ellis, Carolynn L. Smith, Jeffrey Braithwaite