General practice registrars' intentions for future practice: implications for rural medical workforce planning

Area of Science:

• General Practice
• Medical Workforce Planning
• Rural Health

Background:

• General Practice Registrars (GPRs) form the future general practitioner (GP) workforce.
• Understanding GPRs' practice intentions is crucial for effective workforce supply strategies.
• Regional training programs provide insights into the evolving GP landscape.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the practice intentions and ideal practice models of current GPRs.
• To analyze factors influencing GPRs' choice of practice location and work hours.
• To compare the practice ownership intentions of Australian and international medical graduates.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was distributed to 220 GPRs in a regional training program.
• Data were collected on ideal practice characteristics and future practice intentions.
• Statistical analysis was performed to identify significant differences based on gender and graduate origin.

Main Results:

• GPRs intend to work an average of less than eight half-day sessions per week.
• Proximity to family and friends is the primary factor in practice location choice.
• Male GPRs prioritize remuneration, while female GPRs prioritize part-time work options.
• Over one-third of surveyed GPRs plan to practice in metropolitan areas.
• Fee-for-service models were the preferred payment system.
• International medical graduates show a higher intention to own a practice compared to Australian graduates.

Conclusions:

• Future GPs anticipate working fewer hours than current practitioners.
• Lifestyle factors, including proximity to family and preferred work arrangements, significantly influence GPRs' decisions.
• Current assumptions regarding rural recruitment strategies need re-evaluation based on GPR intentions.
• Targeted strategies are necessary to attract and retain GPs in rural and regional settings.