Stress and retention challenges among rural and regional physicians: a mixed-methods systematic review and framework for action

Sustaining rural healthcare requires more than short-term solutions; it calls for systemic reform that centres physician well-being, autonomy, and community-rooted support. Equity-driven frameworks anchored in self-actualisation, collaboration, and culturally responsive remote care offer promising paths forward. Future research must prioritise context-specific, structural change across diverse rural landscapes.