Continuity of service and longer term retention of doctors training as general practitioners in the Remote Vocational Training Scheme.
Journal
The Medical journal of Australia
ISSN: 1326-5377
Titre abrégé: Med J Aust
Pays: Australia
ID NLM: 0400714
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 Oct 2024
07 Oct 2024
Historique:
received:
14
05
2024
accepted:
09
08
2024
medline:
6
10
2024
pubmed:
6
10
2024
entrez:
6
10
2024
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
To explore continuity of service and longer term retention outcomes of participants of the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS). Retrospective cohort study of all doctors who participated in the RVTS from 2000 to 2023, many of whom are international medical graduates and are expected to work in the same community for three to four years in remote (Modified Monash Model [MMM] categories 4-7) or rural Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) streams while undertaking training towards general practice fellowship. Continuity of service was measured in the pre-program period (period working in same practice before commencing) and during-program period (period completing the RVTS program in same practice as worked in before commencing the program). Retention was measured firstly within two years, and secondly beyond two years (up to 20 post-completion years) based on: working in the same community (relevant to both streams); working in the same region (Remote Stream only); working in any MMM4-7 community (Remote Stream only); or working anywhere rurally (both streams). From 506 enrolled participants, 373 (73.7%) were international medical graduates. The approximate mean service continuity in the same practice was 1.6 years (standard deviation [SD], 2.2 years) for the pre-program period and 3.6 years (SD, 1.4 years) for the during-program period (mean total, 5.2 years). Two years after completion, 21 out of 43 Remote Stream doctors (49%) and four out of five AMS Stream doctors (80%) remained in the same community. Over the long term, retention in the same community stabilised to 44 out of 242 Remote Stream doctors (18.2%) and seven out of 27 AMS Stream doctors (26%); 72 Remote Stream doctors (29.8%) remained in the same region, 70 Remote Stream doctors (28.9%) were in an MMM4-7 community, and 11 AMS Stream doctors (41%) were in a rural (MMM2-7) community. Strong service continuity outcomes have been achieved by the RVTS, which supports mostly international medical graduates in locations typified by the highest workforce turnover. This suggests that continuity of service could be improved for remote and First Nations communities through place-based retention-focused programs like the RVTS.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
S9-S15Subventions
Organisme : RVTS (contract research)
Informations de copyright
© 2024 The Author(s). Medical Journal of Australia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of AMPCo Pty Ltd.
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