Medical disputes and turnover intention among physicians and medical technicians: evidence from a cross-sectional study in Xuzhou, China.
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Infection Control, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, China.
- 2Department of Infection Control, The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, China.
- 3Office for Professional Conduct, Xuzhou Children's Hospital, Xuzhou, China.
- 4School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
- 5School of Management, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
- 6Department of Infection Control, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, China. [email protected].
- 7Department of Infection Control, The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, China. [email protected].
- 8Department of Infection Control, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, China. [email protected].
- 9Department of Infection Control, The Wujin Clinical college of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Physicians and medical technicians' turnover intention (TI) poses a growing threat to healthcare workforce stability. Medical disputes are increasingly recognized as a salient occupational stressor, however, their adjusted association with TI remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between medical disputes and TI.Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1570 physicians and medical technicians in public hospitals in Xuzhou, China. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline characteristics between participants with and without dispute experience. Hierarchical logistic regression was then applied to identify factors associated with TI.Results
Overall, 24.8% of participants reported TI. Higher perceived healthcare service quality (OR = 0.973, 95% CI: 0.952, 0.994), neutral income level (OR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.417, 0.876), and neutral or reasonable performance appraisal (OR = 0.470, 95% CI: 0.264, 0.840; OR = 0.310, 95% CI: 0.159, 0.603) were associated with lower odds of TI. In addition, higher burnout level (OR = 1.096, 95% CI: 1.066, 1.127) and experiencing disputes (OR = 1.682, 95% CI: 1.165, 2.430) were associated with higher odds of TI.Conclusions
Nearly one-quarter of participants in this study reported TI, indicating a persistent workforce challenge. Physicians and medical technicians' TI are shaped by a combination of professional experiences, organizational conditions, and personal health factors. Addressing these interconnected factors is essential for improving health workforce retention and ensuring the long-term stability of healthcare systems.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{qi2026medical,
title = {{Medical disputes and turnover intention among physicians and medical technicians: evidence from a cross-sectional study in Xuzhou, China.}},
author = {Zijian Qi and Ziyang Liu and Liang Shen and Junbo Li and Saiping Wu and Xiaoxu Chen},
journal = {BMC health services research},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1186/s12913-026-15679-5},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902343},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Medical disputes and turnover intention among physicians and medical technicians: evidence from a cross-sectional study in Xuzhou, China.
AU - Zijian Qi
AU - Ziyang Liu
AU - Liang Shen
AU - Junbo Li
AU - Saiping Wu
AU - Xiaoxu Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - BMC health services research
DO - 10.1186/s12913-026-15679-5
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902343
AB - Background Physicians and medical technicians' turnover intention (TI) poses a growing threat to healthcare workforce stability. Medical disputes are increasingly recognized as a salient occupational stressor, however, their adjusted association with TI remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between medical disputes and TI.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1570 physicians and medical technicians in public hospitals in Xuzhou, China. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline characteristics between participants with and without dispute experience. Hierarchical logistic regression was then applied to identify factors associated with TI.Results Overall, 24.8% of participants reported TI. Higher perceived healthcare service quality (OR = 0.973, 95% CI: 0.952, 0.994), neutral income level (OR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.417, 0.876), and neutral or reasonable performance appraisal (OR = 0.470, 95% CI: 0.264, 0.840; OR = 0.310, 95% CI: 0.159, 0.603) were associated with lower odds of TI. In addition, higher burnout level (OR = 1.096, 95% CI: 1.066, 1.127) and experiencing disputes (OR = 1.682, 95% CI: 1.165, 2.430) were associated with higher odds of TI.Conclusions Nearly one-quarter of participants in this study reported TI, indicating a persistent workforce challenge. Physicians and medical technicians' TI are shaped by a combination of professional experiences, organizational conditions, and personal health factors. Addressing these interconnected factors is essential for improving health workforce retention and ensuring the long-term stability of healthcare systems.
SN - 1472-6963
ER -