Integration Experiences of International and Canadian Medical Graduates New to Rural Practice

Physicians who successfully integrate into their rural community are more likely to remain, yet little is known about whether international medical graduates (IMGs) face unique challenges in navigating the process of integration compared with locally trained physicians. This study explores how new-to-rural-practice Canadian medical graduates (CMGs) and IMGs in British Columbia experience the integration process.

Participants included CMGs and IMGs new to rural practice in British Columbia. Participants completed a semistructured interview and data was analyzed using a deductive coding process.

Twelve CMGs and 10 IMGs participated. Integration involved two complementary processes: learning how to navigate the contextualized, varied demands of rural practice and identifying as a member of the community. IMGs tended to face a steeper learning curve to meet their community's needs. Some physicians navigated integration by seeking local mentorship.

This study suggests that CMGs and IMGs navigate a similar integration process but IMGs face additional barriers in doing so. Mentors are a promising means to support integration, especially for IMGs and CMGs unfamiliar with rural living, by building professional competence and facilitating social identification.