A profile of rural surgeons in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a profile of rural surgeons for comparison with profiles of rural general practitioners in the light of shortages in the rural medical workforce.


METHODS
Rural surgeons were surveyed by a postal questionnaire in November 1997.


METHODS
Members of the Provincial Surgeons of Australia residing in towns with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants.


RESULTS
239 questionnaires were sent and 137 surgeons replied, a response rate of 59%. Our survey showed that rural surgeons are predominantly male, middle-aged and married. They work long hours, and nominate as their major concerns difficulty in finding locum cover, continual on-call work, peer isolation, children's schooling, and lack of privacy.


CONCLUSIONS
Rural surgeons and general practitioners share similar characteristics and concerns.
Bruening
M H
MH
Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, SA.
Maddern
G J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload