Factors influencing the response to advertisements for general practice vacancies.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the extent of problems in recruiting general practitioners and to determine which practice characteristics affect recruitment--in particular, to see if practices with deprived patients have more recruitment problems.


METHODS
Postal questionnaire survey in August 1995.


METHODS
489 consecutive practices that had advertised for a partner in the BMJ from January to April 1995.


METHODS
The number of applicants, the practices, satisfaction with their quantity and quality, and whether a successful appointment was made.


RESULTS
442 (90%) practices replied. 262 practices (60%) were not very satisfied or very dissatisfied with the number of applications they received; 15 (3%) received no applications. There was a significant difference in the number of applications received by practices in different NHS regions. The 32 practices with the highest proportions of patients eligible for deprivation payments received a median of five applicants compared with 10 for practices without deprivation.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a widespread problem in recruiting general practitioners. Recruitment is hardest in areas with the greatest health needs.
Carlisle
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R
Nottingham University, Department of General Practice, Queens Medical Centre.
Johnstone
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S
D000329:Advertising; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007586:Job Application; D010560:Personnel Selection