Content of advertisements for junior doctors: is there sufficient detail?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether employers follow BMA guidelines on advertisements when advertising for junior doctors.

DESIGN: Survey of advertisements for junior doctors in the BMJ's classified advertisements supplement from 12 March to 14 May 1994.

SUBJECTS: 300 advertisements for substantive posts for junior doctors.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Compliance with BMA guidelines, compared by grade, specialty, and employer (trust or regional health authority); observation of any useful information not included in the guidelines.

RESULTS: Only eight advertisements included all the recommended information. Amount of information given was related to grade, specialty, or employer in only one respect: advertisements for basic trainees were more likely than those for higher specialist trainees to include information on pay and hours of work (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Advertisements for junior doctors in the BMJ do not comply with BMA guidelines and often contain little useful information for potential applicants.