Content of advertisements for junior doctors: is there sufficient detail?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether employers follow BMA guidelines on advertisements when advertising for junior doctors.


METHODS
Survey of advertisements for junior doctors in the BMJ's classified advertisements supplement from 12 March to 14 May 1994.


METHODS
300 advertisements for substantive posts for junior doctors.


METHODS
Compliance with BMA guidelines, compared by grade, specialty, and employer (trust or regional health authority); observation of any useful information not included in the guidelines.


RESULTS
Only eight advertisements included all the recommended information. Amount of information given was related to grade, specialty, or employer in only one respect: advertisements for basic trainees were more likely than those for higher specialist trainees to include information on pay and hours of work (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Advertisements for junior doctors in the BMJ do not comply with BMA guidelines and often contain little useful information for potential applicants.
Clark
C L
CL
University Department of Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, London.
D000329:Advertising / Q000592:standards*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000592:standards*; D006113:United Kingdom