Sense of place, place attachment, and belonging-in-place in empirical research: A scoping review for rural health workforce research. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gillespie, Judy; Cosgrave, Catherine; Malatzky, Christina; Carden, Clarissa
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 74(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Sense of place -- Place attachment -- Rural health workforce -- Recruitment and retention; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102756
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: Rural communities around the world face chronic shortages of medical, nursing, and allied health professionals that contribute to serious inequalities between urban and rural residents. Three concepts have been identified as relevant for health workforce recruitment and retention: sense of place, place attachment, and belonging-in-place. However, there is limited information regarding operationalisation of these concepts within health workforce studies. This paper presents findings from a scoping review investigating empirical application of these concepts across a range of disciplines. Findings identify various strategies for empirical application of two of these three concepts to health workforce research and highlight the value of particular approaches for studies of rural health workforce retention. The paper concludes with several recommendations for future research. Highlights: Empirical research across a range of disciplines contributes to theorising and measuring sense of place and place attachment. In an increasingly mobile world, 'active' and 'traditional' place attachments may be particularly relevant. Fuzzy analytic network processes can enhance understanding of interactions among factors.