Motivating and educating health professionals to work in less attractive specialties: Findings from Vietnam

This thesis describes four studies conducted in Vietnam to explore the factors that influence the recruitment and retention of healthcare workers in preventive medicine - one of the less attractive medical specialties. This project provides information about the relation between an individual’s initial interest, personal needs, perceptions and expectations with the motivation to choose preventive medicine. The knowledge presented in this thesis can serve as a basis for the design and implementation of appropriate educational strategies at high school, university, and further career development to increase the motivation of healthcare workers in the specialties that struggle with recruitment and retention of workforce. These findings from Vietnam could help related stakeholders in health professions education to overcome the human resource shortages in similar conditions.