New Zealand rural general practitioners 1999 survey part 4: analysis of specific sub-groups.

AIMS: To compare and contrast the demographics, working characteristics, and computer usage of 5 sub-groups of rural general practitioners (GPs) using data from the New Zealand Rural GPs 1999 Survey.

METHODS: Anonymous postal questionnaires were mailed out to 559 rural and semi-rural GPs in November 1999.

RESULTS: Of the 417 completed questionnaires returned (response rate = 75%), 338 were from GPs scoring >or= 35 points on the Rural Ranking Scale (RRS), and these 'rural' GPs formed the study group. Analysis of sub-groups showed that a significantly higher percentage of younger doctors (<45 years old) were vocationally trained, doing accreditation, working in group practices, or working part-time. A higher percentage of the more isolated rural GPs (RRS >or= 55) were working on the South Island, in solo practice, in areas with 3 or less GPs, working as rural hospital doctors, or doing intra-partum obstetrics. Of the vocationally trained GPs, a higher percentage expected to be in their current practice in 3 years, were doing accreditation or re-accreditation, were members of an Independent Practitioners' Association (IPA), or had email at the surgery. Compared to overseas graduates, New Zealand graduates were more likely to have been working in NZ rural general practice for >or= 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS: The trend of younger doctors wanting to work part-time, in group practices, and not own their practice, has significant implications for the rural workforce shortage - especially as older, predominantly male rural GPs retire. This may be especially problematic for the South Island, where rural isolation appears to be a greater problem.