Medical disputes and turnover intention among physicians and medical technicians: evidence from a cross-sectional study in Xuzhou, China

Physicians and medical technicians’ turnover intention (TI) poses a growing threat to healthcare workforce stability. Medical disputes are increasingly recognized as a salient occupational stressor, however, their adjusted association with TI remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between medical disputes and TI. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1570 physicians and medical technicians in public hospitals in Xuzhou, China. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline characteristics between participants with and without dispute experience. Hierarchical logistic regression was then applied to identify factors associated with TI. Overall, 24.8% of participants reported TI. Higher perceived healthcare service quality (OR = 0.973, 95% CI: 0.952, 0.994), neutral income level (OR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.417, 0.876), and neutral or reasonable performance appraisal (OR = 0.470, 95% CI: 0.264, 0.840; OR = 0.310, 95% CI: 0.159, 0.603) were associated with lower odds of TI. In addition, higher burnout level (OR = 1.096, 95% CI: 1.066, 1.127) and experiencing disputes (OR = 1.682, 95% CI: 1.165, 2.430) were associated with higher odds of TI. Nearly one-quarter of participants in this study reported TI, indicating a persistent workforce challenge. Physicians and medical technicians’ TI are shaped by a combination of professional experiences, organizational conditions, and personal health factors. Addressing these interconnected factors is essential for improving health workforce retention and ensuring the long-term stability of healthcare systems.