Catherine M Joyce1, John J McNeil. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. catherine.joyce@med.monash.edu.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate workforce participation patterns among Australian medical graduates and the extent of cohort differences in these patterns. DESIGN: We carried out a retrospective longitudinal cohort study, with data collected by postal survey on current occupation, location, absences from the workforce and occupation since graduation. PARTICIPANTS: Graduates who had completed their basic medical training at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, in 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995 were invited to participate (n = 546); 368 took part in the study (69%). OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of graduates in the Australian medical workforce, the equivalent full-time contribution to the Australian medical workforce, and the proportion taking temporary absences from the workforce were determined. RESULTS: The rate of participation in the Australian medical workforce was 96% 2 years after graduation. It then declined to reach 85% by 10 years and regained slightly to reach 88% by 15 years after graduation. There was no indication that the 1995 cohort made a lower contribution to the Australian medical workforce than the earlier cohorts in their first 7 years after graduation. CONCLUSION: Although there are few indications of differences between these cohorts during the first 7 years after graduation, the main contributing factors to losses from the Australian medical workforce -- medical work overseas and parental leave -- do not exert their maximum influence until a later time point. Longitudinal cohort data are essential for monitoring trends in medical workforce participation and hence for effective workforce planning.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate workforce participation patterns among Australian medical graduates and the extent of cohort differences in these patterns. DESIGN: We carried out a retrospective longitudinal cohort study, with data collected by postal survey on current occupation, location, absences from the workforce and occupation since graduation. PARTICIPANTS: Graduates who had completed their basic medical training at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, in 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995 were invited to participate (n = 546); 368 took part in the study (69%). OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of graduates in the Australian medical workforce, the equivalent full-time contribution to the Australian medical workforce, and the proportion taking temporary absences from the workforce were determined. RESULTS: The rate of participation in the Australian medical workforce was 96% 2 years after graduation. It then declined to reach 85% by 10 years and regained slightly to reach 88% by 15 years after graduation. There was no indication that the 1995 cohort made a lower contribution to the Australian medical workforce than the earlier cohorts in their first 7 years after graduation. CONCLUSION: Although there are few indications of differences between these cohorts during the first 7 years after graduation, the main contributing factors to losses from the Australian medical workforce -- medical work overseas and parental leave -- do not exert their maximum influence until a later time point. Longitudinal cohort data are essential for monitoring trends in medical workforce participation and hence for effective workforce planning.
Authors: Catherine M Joyce; Anthony Scott; Sung-Hee Jeon; John Humphreys; Guyonne Kalb; Julia Witt; Anne Leahy Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2010-02-25 Impact factor: 2.655