Attitudes of Victorian rural GPs to country practice and training

This article reports findings from a study undertaken in early 1991 about attitudes of rural general practitioners in Victoria to country practice and training. A questionnaire was sent to all rural general practitioners and two random samples of metropolitan GPs: one group in suburban practice and another group in fringe metropolitan areas. A 75% response rate was achieved providing information representative of most general practitioners in Victoria. Study findings cover aspects of rural GPs' personal background including training; practice description including continuing education; reasons for choosing country practice; reasons for staying in country practice; reasons for leaving country practice; and suggestions for improving recruitment, training and retention of rural GPs.