Factors associated with rural practice among Australian-trained general practitioners
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(Published version)
Date
2003
Authors
Laven, G.
Beilby, J.
Wilkinson, D.
McElroy, H.
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Journal article
Citation
Medical Journal of Australia, 2003; 179(2):75-79
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Gillian A Laven, Justin J Beilby, David Wilkinson and Heather J McElroy
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Abstract
Objective: To determine the factors associated with general practitioners' current practice location, with particular emphasis on rural location. Design: Observational, retrospective, case–control study using a self-administered questionnaire. Setting: Australian general practices in December 2000. Participants: 2414 Australian-trained rural and urban GPs. Main outcome measure: Current urban or rural practice location. Results: For Australia as a whole, rural GPs were more likely to be male (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.17–1.73), Australian-born (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.55–2.45), and to report attending a rural primary school for "some" (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.69–2.89) or "all" (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.94–4.00) of their primary schooling. Rural GPs' partners or spouses were also more likely to report "some" (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 2.07–3.66) or "all" (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.02–4.05) rural primary schooling. A rural background in both GP and partner produced the highest likelihood of rural practice (OR, 6.28; 95% CI, 4.26–9.25). For individual jurisdictions, a trend towards more rural GPs being men was only significant in Tasmania. In all jurisdictions except Tasmania and the Northern Territory, rural GPs were more likely to be Australian-born. Conclusions: GPs' and their partners' rural background (residence and primary and secondary schooling) influences choice of practice location, with partners' background appearing to exert more influence.
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The document attached has been archived with permission from the editor of the Medical Journal of Australia (10 January 2008). An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.