Characteristics and practice patterns of international medical graduates: how different are they from those of Canadian-trained physicians?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the personal characteristics and practice patterns of international medical graduates (IMGs) practising in southwestern Ontario and to compare them with the personal characteristics and practice patterns of Canadian-trained family physicians practising in the same region.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of data gathered from a census of family physicians.

SETTING

Southwestern Ontario.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 685 family physicians.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Characteristics and practice patterns of IMG physicians and Canadian-trained physicians.

RESULTS

Among all family physicians practising in southwestern Ontario, 15.3% were IMGs. The IMGs were more likely than Canadian-trained medical graduates to be older and to have been in practice longer, and less likely to have completed a family medicine residency or to have been involved in undergraduate or postgraduate teaching. The IMGs were more likely to have practised longer in their current locations and to be in solo practice and accepting new patients, but were less likely to be providing maternity and newborn care. They were also more likely than Canadian-trained medical graduates were to be serving in small towns and rural and isolated communities.

CONCLUSION

The personal and practice characteristics of IMG physicians vary somewhat from those of their Canadian-trained colleagues. Policy efforts aimed at increasing and integrating IMG family physicians into the work force need to recognize these differences. Further research is needed before our results can be generalized to physicians practising beyond southwestern Ontario.