Dispelling the myths about rural consultant physician practice: the Victorian Physicians Survey.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the barriers to practising as a rural consultant physician.


METHODS
Cross-sectional postal survey.


METHODS
All 981 practising consultant physicians in Victoria, Australia, who were Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1999; 52 (100%) of rural physicians and 634 (68.2%) of metropolitan physicians completed the survey.


METHODS
Demographic and practice characteristics; barriers to rural practice.


RESULTS
There were no rural female consultant physicians, and 35 of the 52 rural consultant physicians (67.3%) were born in a rural area. The most important perceived barriers to rural practice identified by both metropolitan and rural physicians were children's schooling (72.2%), spouse's occupation (65.7%), other issues related to children (66.7%) and difficulties getting back into metropolitan practice (45.7%). Among metropolitan physicians, barriers to rural practice differed by age, sex, place of birth and nationality. Returning to metropolitan practice, children and concern over procedures were more likely to be reported as barriers to rural practice among those aged 40 years or under, 41-50 years and 51 years and over, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The major barriers to rural practice identified by physicians lie outside the health sector, and particularly concern a perceived need for wider opportunities in children's education and spouse employment.
Simmons
David
D
Department of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, PO Box 6500, Shepparton, VIC 3632. dsimmons@unimelb.edu.au
Bolitho
Les E
LE
Phelps
Grant J
GJ
Ziffer
Rob
R
Disher
Gary J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003253:Consultants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010560:Personnel Selection; D019035:Rural Health Services; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria; D000078329:Workforce