How do IMGs compare with Canadian medical school graduates in a family practice residency program?
OBJECTIVE
To compare international medical graduates (IMGs) with Canadian medical school graduates in a family practice residency program.


METHODS
Analysis of the results of the in-training evaluation reports (ITERs) and the Certification in Family Medicine (CCFP) examination results for 2 cohorts of IMGs and Canadian-trained graduates between the years 2006 and 2008.


METHODS
St Paul's Hospital (SPH) in Vancouver, BC, a training site of the University of British Columbia (UBC) Family Practice Residency Program.


METHODS
In-training evaluation reports were examined for 12 first-year and 9 second-year Canadian-trained residents at the SPH site, and 12 first-year and 12 second-year IMG residents at the IMG site at SPH; CCFP examination results were reviewed for all UBC family practice residents who took the May 2008 examination and disclosed their results.


METHODS
Pass or fail rates on the CCFP examination; proportions of evaluations in each group of residents given each of the following designations: exceeds expectations, meets expectations, or needs improvement. The May 2008 CCFP examination results were reviewed.


RESULTS
Compared with the second-year IMGs, the second-year SPH Canadian-trained residents had a greater proportion of exceeds expectations designations than the IMGs. For the first-year residents, both the SPH Canadian graduates and IMGs had similar results in all 3 categories. Combining the results of the 2 cohorts, the Canadian-trained residents had 310 (99%) ITERs that were designated as either exceeds expectations or meets expectations, and only 3 (1%) ITERs were in the needs improvement category. The IMG results were 362 (97.6%) ITERs in the exceeds expectations or meets expectations categories; 9 (2%) were in the needs improvement category. Statistically these are not significant differences. Seven of the 12 (58%) IMG candidates passed the CCFP examination compared with 59 of 62 (95%) of the UBC family practice residents.


CONCLUSIONS
The IMG residents compared favourably with their Canadian-trained colleagues when comparing ITERs but not in passing the CCFP examination. Further research is needed to elucidate these results.
Andrew
Rodney F
RF
International Medical Graduate Site, Family Practice Residency Program, University of British Columbia, St Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z. randrew@providencehealth.bc.ca
D001955:British Columbia; D002170:Canada; D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation