P C Ma1, L K Chan, X Huynh. 1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To gain insight into family medicine residents' attitudes toward relocating to the United States and to examine factors influencing their decisions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mailed survey. SETTING: University of Toronto family medicine program. PARTICIPANTS: First- and second-year residents in the academic year 1995 to 1996. A 74.6% response rate (144 of 193 residents) was achieved. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intention to relocate to the United States. Degree of importance of 11 motivational factors in residents' decisions to relocate. RESULTS: In this survey, 48% of residents reported they intended to relocate to the United States, but only 17% recalled expecting to relocate before Ontario's introduction of geographic billing restriction legislation. Geographic billing restriction was the motivational factor most residents (86.8%) considered very important in their decision-making process. The two factors potentially predicting US relocation were finance and climate. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors influence family medicine residents' intention to relocate to the United States. Geographic billing restriction was the most significant motivational factor, and its introduction has likely precipitated a marked shift in residents' attitudes favouring US relocation.
OBJECTIVES: To gain insight into family medicine residents' attitudes toward relocating to the United States and to examine factors influencing their decisions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mailed survey. SETTING: University of Toronto family medicine program. PARTICIPANTS: First- and second-year residents in the academic year 1995 to 1996. A 74.6% response rate (144 of 193 residents) was achieved. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intention to relocate to the United States. Degree of importance of 11 motivational factors in residents' decisions to relocate. RESULTS: In this survey, 48% of residents reported they intended to relocate to the United States, but only 17% recalled expecting to relocate before Ontario's introduction of geographic billing restriction legislation. Geographic billing restriction was the motivational factor most residents (86.8%) considered very important in their decision-making process. The two factors potentially predicting US relocation were finance and climate. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors influence family medicine residents' intention to relocate to the United States. Geographic billing restriction was the most significant motivational factor, and its introduction has likely precipitated a marked shift in residents' attitudes favouring US relocation.