Table.5 Lists of factors based on five major themes

1. Family-friendly environment

2. Married with children living at home

3. Rural lifestyle

4. Lived in rural areas/Rural background

5. Spouse or partner with a rural background

6. Spousal/partner satisfaction e.g. education, work, general

7. Desire to return to hometown

8. Familiarity of rural and remote location

9. Family in a rural area

10. Being independent from extended family

11. Size of community

12. Owning a pharmacy in rural area (as a geographic aspect)

13. Good public school system

14. Recreational opportunities/adventure experiences

15. Social and/or cultural activities

16. Opportunities for family members

17. Having family accompany

18. Personal and Social relationships

19. Social and cultural facilities

20. Multiculturalism/Many cultures existing in a community

21. Connection with community members of the same age

22. Availability of public media, communication, and internet

23. Availability of public transport

24. Good transport connections – road/plane

1. Financial rewards as sole pharmacists in small towns

2. High income/Good salary/High earning potential

3. Financial aid from the state

4. Lower tuition fees at university for rural career

5. Tax concessions

6. Owning a pharmacy in rural area (as an Economic aspect)

7. Financial support/incentives for rural return of service/loan forgiveness programs

8. Funding incentive (e.g. scholarship, continuing professional development allowance)

9. Signing bonus, license fees paid, or similar benefits

10. Cost of living/affordability

11. Housing availability/affordability

12. Suitable accommodation

13. Higher level of debts/return-of-service commitments

14. Financial risk

15. Administrative expenses

16. Regulatory requirements

17. Better job security/ permanent fulltime employment

18. Resources in practice environment (good stock control, reduced access to services, logistical issues)

19. Rural scholarship

20. Availability of the costs of relocation

21. Cost of locums

1. Diverse work experience

2. Independency or autonomy of practice

3. Expanded scope of practice

4. Job/professional satisfaction

5. Access to continuing professional education/development

6. Rural career exposure/past employment

7. Internship in a rural area

8. Rural exposure in undergraduate pharmacy education

9. More than six years of practice experience

10. Greater job opportunities/career ladders

11. Professional isolation

1. Perception of being a good fit for rural practice

2. Satisfaction with professional aspect of working in a rural community

3. Confidence in providing healthcare services

4. Relationships/communication with co-workers or other health professionals

5. Working as part of multidisciplinary team/ getting along and working well together

6. Good work environment

7. Access to locum support

8. Supervision/preceptor/supervisor

9. Peer support

10. Good practice experience/ career opportunities

11. Good pace of work on the job

12. Ability to practice as desired

13. Good working hours

14. Availability of coverage and backup

15. Accessible to GP services/medical health care

16. Work/life balance (ability to take leave)

17. Availability of staff

18. Being employed as hospital pharmacist

19. Clinical and administrative workload

1. Serving health needs in the rural community/helping people

2. Feeling of being valued by the rural communities/sense of belonging

3. Sense of being appreciated by community/community recognition

4. Connection to community

5. Helping to develop rural areas

6. Starting a business ‘with friends’

7. Communities are friendly and supportive of each other

8. Future of community looks very positive over next 5 years

9. Community attractiveness

10. Health care a major part of local economic development

11. Positive relationships/ communication with customers

12. Sense of loyalty to the pharmacy

13. Privacy/separation between personal and professional roles in small rural communities

14. Image/perception of rural health care

15. Differences in health issues compared to metropolitan areas