Organizational attachment of interns in Poland to healthcare system.

OBJECTIVES Despite the profound structural reform of the health service in Poland, the present organizational system of health care is subject to severe criticism. It is described as unjust and enhancing malpractice as well as migration of young doctors abroad. The commonly expressed disapproval and own observations on the organization and functions of health care are expected to affect future performance of medical interns and suppress their motivation to pursue professional career. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the extent to which the interns approve the present healthcare system as a measure of their organizational attachment. METHOD Questionnaire survey was conducted in 992 interns (mean age 26 years) in 2004 and responses were evaluated using a specially designed scale of approval. RESULTS The majority of interns expressed high disapproval of the healthcare system. CONCLUSIONS This disapproval can be regarded as an indirect measure of the lack of organizational attachment on the part of the interns. These findings may have negative consequences for the future functions of healthcare in Poland. Therefore, measures should be undertaken to promote positive attitudes among medical students and interns. The disapproval of the system is a personal attitude independent of the social and economic characteristics. One should note that the personnel mobility opportunities do not seem to be playing the role of an effective "safety valve" to diminish the disapproval of the system by medical interns.