Healey Sunita Joann Rebecca, Fakes Kristy, Malau-Aduli Bunmi S, Nair Balakrishnan R
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Equity in Health and Wellbeing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.
Adv Med Educ Pract. 2025 May 31;16:965-979. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S521037. eCollection 2025.
Several countries rely on International medical graduates (IMGs) to fill critical service gaps. IMGs experience a range of challenges related to migration, acculturation, accreditation and career.
This study aimed to explore the journeys, perceptions and challenges of IMGs based in Australia.
We used a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach for design and analysis. An online survey was distributed Australia-wide to IMGs through various avenues (including snowballing) between 13th October 2023 and 31 December 2023. We later conducted individual interviews between February and April 2024. Quantitative data was descriptively analysed. Qualitative data from survey written responses and oral interviews were thematically analysed. Study data was triangulated and congruence assessed. Full Ethics approval was obtained.
The study comprised 286 survey participants and 36 interview participants. Working conditions, location/lifestyle and personal/family opportunities were among the reasons for Australia's popularity as a host country. The most disliked aspects were system processes (eg, bureaucracy, certifications, licencing etc) (87/199; 43.7%), and discrimination, bias, racism, or prejudice (53/199; 26.6%). Two major qualitative themes identified were: (1) IMGs have a rich and diverse set of experiences and (2) IMGs encounter unexpected challenges with widespread impacts on IMGs, family and society. We found high congruency of triangulated data from the quantitative and qualitative studies supporting concepts around IMG diversity of experience and choices, life stage priorities, privilege, mismatched expectations, criticism of bureaucracy, gaps in understanding nuances of the Australian workplace, social challenges, and impact of challenges.
IMGs describe numerous permutations of journeys, challenges and general experiences which result from factors both inside and outside the IMG's control. Challenges, particularly those which are unexpected, may detrimentally impact IMG careers, health and desire to remain in their host country. Institutions have a role in adapting current bureaucratic processes to better support the IMG experience.
一些国家依靠国际医学毕业生（IMGs）来填补关键的服务缺口。IMGs在移民、文化适应、认证和职业方面面临一系列挑战。
本研究旨在探索澳大利亚IMGs的经历、看法和挑战。
我们采用了顺序解释性混合方法进行设计和分析。2023年10月13日至2023年12月31日期间，通过各种途径（包括滚雪球抽样）在澳大利亚全国范围内向IMGs发放了在线调查问卷。随后，我们在2024年2月至4月期间进行了个人访谈。对定量数据进行描述性分析。对调查问卷书面回复和口头访谈中的定性数据进行主题分析。对研究数据进行三角验证并评估一致性。获得了全面的伦理批准。
该研究包括286名调查问卷参与者和36名访谈参与者。工作条件、地点/生活方式以及个人/家庭机会是澳大利亚作为东道国受欢迎的原因之一。最不受欢迎的方面是系统流程（如官僚作风、认证、执照等）（87/199；43.7%），以及歧视、偏见、种族主义或成见（53/199；26.6%）。确定的两个主要定性主题是：（1）IMGs有丰富多样的经历；（2）IMGs遇到意想不到的挑战，对IMGs、家庭和社会产生广泛影响。我们发现，定量和定性研究的三角验证数据高度一致，支持围绕IMGs经历和选择的多样性、人生阶段优先事项、特权、期望不匹配、对官僚作风的批评、对澳大利亚工作场所细微差别理解的差距、社会挑战以及挑战的影响等概念。
IMGs描述了许多由IMGs可控因素内外的因素导致的经历、挑战和总体体验的排列组合。挑战，尤其是那些意想不到的挑战，可能会对IMGs的职业、健康以及留在东道国的意愿产生不利影响。机构在调整当前的官僚流程以更好地支持IMGs的体验方面发挥着作用。
