Workforce education issues for international medical graduate specialists in anaesthesia
Niall S. Higgins A E F , Kersi Taraporewalla B , Michael Steyn B , Rajesh Brijball B and Marcus Watson A C D FA Queensland Health, Clinical Skills Development Service, Level 5 Block 6, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia. Email: marcus_watson@health.qld.gov.au
B Department of Anaesthetics and Peri-operative Care, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia. Email: kersi_taraporewalla@health.qld.gov.au; michael_steyn@health.qld.gov.au; rajesh_brijball@health.qld.gov.au
C School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Mayne Medical School, 288 Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia.
D School of Psychology, University of Queensland, McElwain Building, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
E National ICT Australia, Queensland Research Laboratory, Level 5, Axon Building (47), Staff House Road, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: niall_higgins@health.qld.gov.au
Australian Health Review 34(2) 246-251 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH09793
Submitted: 10 June 2009 Accepted: 9 February 2010 Published: 25 May 2010
Abstract
International medical graduate (IMG) specialists in anaesthesia need education to be part of the assessment process for pre-registration college fellowship. Fellowship of the anaesthetic college is required in Australia for registration as a specialist in this field. Marked differences exist between local trainees and IMG specialists in terms of training, stakes of the exam and isolation of practice. We have examined the reasons for the low pass rate for IMG specialists compared to the local trainees in the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) final fellowship examinations. We also offer an IMG specialists’ view of this perceived problem. It highlights their difficulties in obtaining adequate supervision and education.
What is known about the topic? There has been a worldwide shortage of doctors over the last decade. In Australia this shortage has been attributed to government policy in the 1990s limiting the number of medical school places. Other factors that may have contributed to this shortage are changes in the practice of medicine, increasing specialisation, growth in population and patterns of population settlement at the coastal fringes of Australia. The use of international medical graduates and reliance on them is associated with several problems and challenges. A key factor relates to their performance at a standard acceptable to the country.
What does the paper add? This paper offers an examination of the issues that present to IMG specialists located at rural and remote areas of Australia. The global aim of this study is to understand the workforce education issues that present to IMG specialists as a basis for supporting this group, having migrated to Australia, to better prepare for assessment of their practice in this country. Results of a survey of IMG specialists in Anaesthesia are included to contribute to an overall view. It highlights their understanding of the issues that present when preparing for specialist assessments.
What are the implications for practitioners? This information will be useful for policy practitioners who determine critical elements that influence workforce planning and education support. Decision makers will be able to make more informed decisions on the need to integrate education into planning for workforce efficiencies. There are currently no published data explaining why the pass rate for IMG specialist in anaesthesia is so different from local trainees and this paper also offers a viewpoint of present issues from those who are attempting these examinations.
Acknowledgement
This work was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing IMG specialist Upskilling Program and Queensland Health. It was completed during postgraduate study at University of Queensland. The support of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing is very much appreciated and acknowledged by all the IMG specialists who have been involved. We hope that the Department’s interest and support will continue and be further developed. We also acknowledge and thank Queensland Health for their backing and additional funding, and also their progressive and genuine support for IMG specialists.
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