Jager Alexandra, Terry Rohini, Harris Michael
College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Educ Prim Care. 2025 May;36(3):72-81. doi: 10.1080/14739879.2024.2435012. Epub 2025 Jan 30.
Recruiting and retaining International Medical Graduates (IMGs) has been identified as a key component in addressing the ongoing workforce crisis in general practice. However, research shows IMG General Practitioners (GPs) face unique challenges compared to their UK-trained counterparts, impacting their welfare, retention in the workforce, and ability to provide patient care.
This study examined the challenges facing early-career IMG GPs, the help and support they access and want to access, and their perceptions and utilisation of the help and support available.
A mixed-methods study that collected primary data in an online survey and interviews between March and May 2023.
Early-career IMG GPs based in South West England were invited to complete an online survey consisting of 5-point Likert-scale and free-text questions. Interviews were completed with key informants and some survey respondents. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. Data from the survey and interviews were analysed and merged using a convergent parallel design.
Based on 29 survey replies and 9 interviews, four interrelated themes were identified: (i) communication and language, (ii) racism, unequal treatment, and developing coping mechanisms (iii), exclusion and being 'othered', and (iv) adapting to new ways of living and working. Although some IMG GPs access help and support, many feel this is insufficient and poorly accessible.
IMG GPs face interrelated and unique challenges in their personal and professional lives and do not feel adequately supported by the NHS. Addressing this disconnect will be vital to sustaining the general practice workforce.
招募和留住国际医学毕业生（IMGs）已被视为解决全科医疗当前劳动力危机的关键要素。然而，研究表明，与英国本土培训的同行相比，IMG全科医生（GPs）面临着独特的挑战，这影响着他们的福利、在劳动力队伍中的留存率以及提供患者护理的能力。
本研究调查了处于职业生涯早期的IMG全科医生所面临的挑战、他们获得和希望获得的帮助与支持，以及他们对现有帮助和支持的认知与利用情况。
一项混合方法研究，于2023年3月至5月通过在线调查和访谈收集原始数据。
邀请英格兰西南部处于职业生涯早期的IMG全科医生完成一项在线调查，该调查包含5级李克特量表和自由文本问题。对关键信息提供者和部分调查受访者进行了访谈。对定性数据进行了主题分析。采用收敛平行设计对调查和访谈数据进行分析与合并。
基于29份调查回复和9次访谈，确定了四个相互关联的主题：（i）沟通与语言，（ii）种族主义、不平等待遇及应对机制的形成，（iii）被排斥与“他者化”，以及（iv）适应新的生活和工作方式。尽管一些IMG全科医生获得了帮助与支持，但许多人认为这些帮助不足且难以获得。
IMG全科医生在其个人和职业生活中面临着相互关联且独特的挑战，并且感觉国民保健服务体系（NHS）提供的支持不足。解决这种脱节对于维持全科医疗劳动力队伍至关重要。
