Enhancing rural retention of General Practitioner registrars: A mixed-methods pilot study

Objective: To examine the impact of an individualised registrar training programme on final year General Practitioner (GP) trainees' experiences and decisions to remain in a rural setting. Methods: This pilot study utilised a concurrent three-phase mixed methods triangulation design to collect quantitative and qualitative data derived from surveys and interviews. Setting: A healthcare service in a priority GP area of regional Australia. Participants: Overseas-born GP trainees and supervisors. Main Outcome Measures: Demographic factors and aspects of rural retention pertaining to Whole-of-Person Retention Improvement Framework, such as remuneration, opportunities for training, connectedness to the community, and job satisfaction. Results: Seven individuals (five registrars and two supervisors) participated in this study. All trainees agreed that final year remuneration impacts their decision to stay in a location on completion of their training. Intention to remain in the same location was also influenced by a range of other factors, including stage of life, social isolation, limited opportunities for partners and children, feelings of being treated differently, and access to additional training. Conclusions: To enhance recruitment and retention in rural settings, future research should utilise the three interrelated components of the Whole-of-Person Retention Improvement Framework: community/place, role/career, and workplace/organisational environment.