The recruitment of EEA and non-EEA doctors to Specialist Registrar posts in anaesthesia in the Wessex Region of the UK: a retrospective study of factors influencing successful appointment.
OBJECTIVE
A retrospective analysis of applicants to Specialist Registrar training posts in anaesthesia in the Wessex Region of the UK was undertaken.


METHODS
Applicants whose primary medical qualification was obtained in the European Economic Area were compared to applicants whose primary medical qualification was obtained outside it. The time since qualification, the time spent in anaesthesia, the time spent in other specialities, the post currently held and the success of the application were recorded.


RESULTS
For doctors with a primary medical qualification from outside the European Economic Area, the median time since obtaining that qualification was 12.0 yr compared with 6.0 yr for doctors qualifying within it (P = 0.0001, U-test). Thirteen out of 89 (15%) doctors whose primary medical qualification was from outside the European Economic Area and 39 out of 61 (64%) doctors whose primary medical qualification was from within it were shortlisted for interview (P = 0.0001, chi2-test). Six out of 13 (46%) shortlisted doctors from outside the European Economic Area were appointed at interview compared with 24 out of 39 (62%) shortlisted doctors who qualified within it (P = 0.33, chi2-test).


CONCLUSIONS
In the Wessex Region of the UK, applicants whose primary medical qualification is obtained within the European Economic Area are approximately four times as likely to be shortlisted than doctors qualifying outside it. However, after shortlisting, both categories are equally likely to be successful at interview.
Spargo
P M
PM
Southampton General Hospital, Shackleton Department of Anaesthesia, Southampton, Hampshire, UK. paul.m.spargo@btinternet.com
Lewis
I H
IH
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D005062:European Union; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013038:Specialization; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom