OBJECTIVES: To determine the present status of rural physicians in Pangasinan, Philippines in terms of their demographic characteristics, satisfaction, cases seen in practice, perceptions, and promotive factors and barriers to good health, and physician retention. DESIGN: Descriptive study using a research-designed questionnaire and content analysis of the report of the Pangasinan health facility Inventory 1998-1999.

SETTING: Several local medical conferences held in the province from December 1999 to April 2000 in different venues.

PARTICIPANTS: There were 180 physicians involved but only 160 satisfied the inclusion criteria, and 132 were randomly chosen.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 1) The tabulation and descriptive interpretation of the answers to the questionnaire given to address the objectives of the study and 2) the relative value of the health facility stated in terms of physician services and retention.

RESULTS: Eighty percent of the respondents belonged to the age Group 31-45 years with 75 percent being married. More than 2/3 are female. Three-fourths are from the same province with majority in government clinics (rural health units). More than 50 percent had their medical degree from schools in Pangasinan. The most important reasons for practicing in the rural area was being from the are of origin and availability of position with 100 percent being satisfied with their practice. Provision of training of the rural health physicians (RHPs) while in the are and increased in the professional fees as incentive and governmental financial support were the top three reasons as the belief of the RHPs that will encourage medical grduates to practice in the rural area. More than 90 percent recommend alternative treatment modality, especially herbal medicine to their patients. They believed the government is doing enough to promote rural practice.

CONCLUSIONS: RHPs in Pangasinan are relatively young, most being married, and female, are satisfied in their rural practice. certain factors like 1) being from the same are or being born in that are, 2) graduating from medical schools in the rural area, and 3) provision of training for the RHPs promote rural practice. Majority recommend herbal medication. Most cases are infectious in origin and are preventable with services offered being preventive and routine diasgnostics. Health indicators like infant mortality rate, crude birth rate and average family size are comparable to national rates.

The Filipino Family Physician, 2000 38 ( 3 ) pages 77-83