Identifying Key Factors Affecting Estimating General Practitioner Workforce Requirements with A System Dynamics Approach: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study is to identify the key factors influencing general practitioners' estimates using a system dynamics approach. This analysis is crucial for understanding workforce dynamics and informing healthcare policy. Therefore, a study was conducted with the aim of identifying key factors influencing the estimation of general practitioners using a system dynamics approach.

Methods:This study conducted a scoping review of articles related to the healthcare workforce and general practitioners. Relevant articles were sourced from international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, covering the period from 2000 to 2024, with full-text access available. An inductive approach was employed to analyze the findings, allowing for deeper insights beyond simple aggregation.

Results: 18 final studies out of 7,397 initially identified studies were included in the present research. The findings identified 77 variables and factors as Exogenous and Indigenous. Exogenous variables in the healthcare domain are classified into two main categories: demographic variables and health system variables. Indigenous variables are categorized into two primary groups: educational and workforce variables.

Conclusions: The findings provide a comprehensive framework and variables for the healthcare workforce by integrating demographic changes, labor market dynamics, and professional development. Accurate labor force estimation depends on high-quality data, which poses challenges due to regional differences and constant changes, making effective evidence-based workforce planning and policy development essential through dynamic system thinking.