Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40275230›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2025

Job assessments and the anticipated retention of behavioral health clinicians working in U.S. Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Donald E Pathman, Lisa de Saxe Zerden, Thomas R Konrad, Amanda Beth Shafer, Jerry N Harrison, Jackie Fannell, Brianna M Lombardi

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Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Donald E PathmanCecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Don_Pathman@UNC.edu.
Lisa de Saxe ZerdenCecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Thomas R KonradCecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Amanda Beth ShaferDivision of Prevention and Quality Improvement, Kentucky Department for Public Health, Frankfort, KY, USA.
Jerry N HarrisonNew Mexico Health Resources, Inc., Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Jackie FannellNational Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNET), Jefferson City, MO, USA.
Brianna M LombardiCecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, Department of Family Medicine, and School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Funding

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration U81HP46529-01-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA shortage of behavioral health clinicians impedes access to mental health services nationwide in the U.S., with shortages most acute in federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (mHPSAs). Retaining behavioral health clinicians currently working in mHPSAs is thus critical. This study sought to identify behavioral health clinicians' assessments of various aspects of their work and jobs that are associated with their anticipated retention within mHPSA practices.

methodsData for this cross-sectional study were drawn from an annual feedback survey of clinicians when they complete federal education loan repayment support contracts for their work within mHPSAs, from 2016 to 2023. Clinicians' assessments of various aspects of their work and jobs were measured with validated survey items with Likert-scaled response options, with most combined into scales for analyses. Bivariate and then adjusted associations with 5-year anticipated retention were assessed for clinicians' assessments of various aspects of their work and jobs controlling for demographic, professional, and community characteristics.

resultsThe 2,587 respondent behavioral health clinicians (67.5% response rate) included 42% licensed clinical social workers, 39% licensed professional counselors, 12% psychologists, and 7% licensed marriage and family therapists. Two-thirds of these clinicians worked in either community mental health centers or federally qualified health centers. 42% anticipated they would remain in their practices at least another five years. Five-year anticipated retention rates were nearly three times higher for clinicians who indicated satisfaction on global work and practice assessment measures than for clinicians neutral or dissatisfied on these measures. Five-year anticipated retention rates were also higher for clinicians who reported they had an effective and supportive administration, felt well and fairly compensated, had jobs that permitted a good work-life balance, and had jobs that allowed them to practice the full range of services they desired.

conclusionsHow behavioral health clinicians view their jobs within U.S. mHPSAs is important to their anticipated retention. Based on study findings, to promote their retention practice administrators should provide fair and adequate compensation, foster work-life balance, permit them to deliver the services they wish to provide, and value them and their input and maintain good relationships with them.

Indexed as

Medically Underserved AreaMental Health ServicesPersonnel TurnoverAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansJob SatisfactionMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited StatesBehavioral health workforceCommunity mental health centersJob retentionJob turnoverMental health professional shortage areaPersonnel managementPractice administrationSafety-net providersU.S.A

Identifiers

PMID40275230
PMCPMC12020279

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.