Study of expert healthcare managers’ opinions on staffing issues in medical institutions providing primary healthcare services

Introduction. The staffing problem in healthcare remains relevant, especially within the system of primary healthcare services, which necessitates a comprehensive assessment of human resources and the development of measures to improve staffing in the primary healthcare sector.Purpose. To examine the expert opinions of healthcare managers to identify the main directions for improving the staffing of medical institutions that provide primary healthcare services.Materials and methods. The study utilized expert evaluation methods, as well as statistical and analytical approaches. The research materials include the results of a remote expert survey involving thirty experts — healthcare managers who met established selection criteria and competency requirements.Results. Experts note the significant workload on medical personnel working within the primary healthcare care (PHC) system as one of the key issues related to human resources in primary healthcare. According to the experts, particular attention should be given to training specialists in educational institutions with a focus on the needs of practical healthcare. As the most significant measures of social support for medical workers, experts highlight the need for housing provision and financial compensation.Key aspects for strengthening the human resource potential of rural healthcare include addressing housing issues for medical workers, developing infrastructure, and enhancing the material and technical base of medical institutions.Research limitations. The research materials are limited to the results of individual expert surveys.Conclusions. The use of expert evaluation methods in addressing staffing issues in primary healthcare is appropriate and allows assessing the problem based on the opinions of experienced experts, facilitating subsequent management decisions.Compliance with ethical standards. The protocol for the sociological study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Sociological Research in Public Health at the Russian Research Institute of Health (conclusion No. 8/2024 dated May 8, 2024).Contribution of the authors. All authors made an equal contribution to the search and analytical work and preparation of the article, read and approved the final version before publication.Funding. The study had no sponsorship.Conflict of interest. The authors declare the absence of any conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.Received: January 9, 2025 / Accepted: February 19, 2025 / Published: June 30, 2025

expert evaluation method, staffing, staffing policy in healthcare, primary healthcare services