Abstract / Summary
Abstract Background Based on the expected income hypothesis, physicians’ desired level of income would affect their behavior. This study aimed at exploring the expected income and explain how primary doctors set their desired income. Methods A self-designed survey questionnaire of affecting factors on primary doctors' expected income was extracted from literature reviews and several interviews. The respondents comprised 8,469 primary doctors who participated in the survey (response rate: 52%) in August 2020. The instrumental variables (IV) method was utilized to analyze the factors that impact the expected income of primary doctors. Results The average expected income reported by 8,469 PHC workers was $26,810. It was revealed that the most frequently selected annual expected income bracket was $24,000-$48,000, which comprised 41% of the participants. Contrary to the expected income, the most commonly reported actual annual income was between $4,800 and $12,000, accounting for 43.5% of the PHC workers. The study found that income levels among PHC workers differed significantly across various regions. Utilizing IV methods, we pinpointed four key factors that significantly influenced the expected income of PHC workers (P < 0.05): region, job satisfaction, education level and perceived income. Conclusion An incentive-based compensation system is of crucial significance in enhancing the operational efficiency of primary healthcare facilities. Effective compensation management directly reflects the value of primary healthcare staff. As a result, local governments should conduct a strategic assessment of their specific healthcare talent requirements, aligning them with the level of economic development and local circumstances, in order to enhance compensation strategies and attract and retain the necessary talent more effectively to strengthen their healthcare workforce.