Dispelling myths about rural consultant physician practice
Major barriers impeding Australian physicians from practising in rural and remote areas fall outside the health sector, according to a new survey.
The survey, reported in the latest issue of the Medical Journal of Australia, says the major obstacles to rural practice for both metropolitan and rural physicians were the need for wider opportunities in their children's education and spouse employment. It also identified that visiting services by metropolitan physicians do not contribute to after-hours cover for rural practices - one of the many identified barriers to becoming a rural physician.
The survey was conducted in March 2000 by Professor of Rural Health, David Simmons from the University of Melbourne, Physicians: Dr Les E Bolitho,
Dr Grant Phelps, Dr Rob Ziffer and Mr Gary Disher, from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, New South Wales and more than 600 rural and metropolitan practising physicians throughout Victoria were surveyed. Of the metropolitan physicians, only 8.5 percent said they would consider moving to a rural practice.
The major obstacles to rural practice for both city and rural physicians were children's schooling (72 percent), spouse's occupation (66 percent), and other issues relating to children (67 percent). A substantial proportion of physicians - including non-Australian born graduates - expressed concern about problems getting back to metropolitan practice, which indicates a greater likelihood of overseas-trained physicians seeking to move to the city from rural areas as soon as possible.
Professor Simmons said attitudes of rural-born physicians practising in the city are less likely to view schooling as a barrier to rural practice than their metropolitan born counterparts.
"Those born in metropolitan areas have an exaggerated negative view of schools in provincial areas. In fact, many of the schools in towns able to support a consultant physician practice perform well, educationally," Professor Simmons said.
Alarmingly, the survey revealed there were no female consultant physicians working in rural Victoria.
"The ability to maintain the rural consultant physician workforce is likely to become increasingly difficult and highlights the extent of the need for urgent action in rural practice," Professor Simmons said.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
CONTACT: Professor David Simmons Phone: (03) 5823 4501 (B/H)
(0417) 034 2378 (A/H)
Sarah Crichton, AMA Phone: (0419) 440 076