A comparison of rural and non rural RACGP training program trainees. Royal Australian College of General Practice

To obtain demographic data about Royal Australian College of General Practice (RACGP) trainees, and identify differences between rural and non rural RACGP trainees.

A postal survey of 211 RACGP trainee doctors in South Australia (SA) and the Northern Territory (NT) from 1992 to 1993. Statistical tests used were chi 2 or Fisher's exact test, with P < or = 0.05.

The questionnaire was completed by 154 doctors, 41 of whom planned on rural general practice. The sex distribution of rural trainees was equal. Almost all of the trainees planning on rural general practice were born in Australia; all spoke English as their first language and all did their undergraduate training in Australia. There were very few part time rural trainees. Most trainees who planned to settle in rural areas were raised in a capital city. Contrary to widely accepted opinion, trainees with a rural background were no more likely to enter rural practice than trainees with an urban background; with the possible exception of trainees raised in towns with a population of less than 5000 people.