Intention to relocate to the United States.

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.