Re-entry residency training: opportunities and obstacles.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and quantify the reasons general practitioners and family physicians consider retraining and their reasons for not pursuing further training.


METHODS
Population-based mailed survey.


METHODS
British Columbia.


METHODS
Family physicians and general practitioners identified by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.


METHODS
Practising physicians' level of awareness of the University of British Columbia's re-entry training program, the number and demographic characteristics of those who had considered retraining, their specialties of interest, and the barriers and possible inducements to retraining.


RESULTS
Only half of the survey respondents were aware of the re-entry training program at the University of British Columbia. A small but substantial number of practising general practitioners and family physicians were interested in taking specialty training from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. While several training programs were particularly popular (ie, anesthesia and psychiatry--18.5% of respondents for each), almost every specialty training program was mentioned. Physicians identified the length and hours of training, financial issues, family issues, and the need for relocation as obstacles to retraining. The availability of part-time training, regional training, and return-of-service financial assistance were all identified as potential inducements.


CONCLUSIONS
To meet the needs of practising physicians, re-entry training programs will need to consider flexibility, where feasible, with regard to choice of specialty, intensity, and location of postgraduate training.
Jamieson
Jean L
JL
Department of Family Medicine, University of British Columbia, Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, 2775 Laurel St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada. jean.jamieson@familymed.ubc.ca
Webber
Eric M
EM
Sivertz
Kristin S
KS
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001955:British Columbia; D002321:Career Choice; D002568:Certification; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004518:Education, Professional, Retraining / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires