Australian-trained doctors are often reluctant to
work in rural and remote areas and overseastrained
doctors (OTDs) are recruited to practise in
many rural Aboriginal medical services. This paper
focuses on recent research carried out in Australia
to analyse factors affecting OTDs? professional,
cultural and social integration and examine their
training and support needs. Ten case studies were
conducted throughout Australia with OTDs, which
also included interviews with spouses/partners,
professional colleagues, co-workers, and Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander community members
associated with the health service.
Key themes emerging from the data across all
informants included the need to better address
recruitment, orientation and cross-cultural issues;
the importance of effective communication and
building community and institutional relationships,
both with the local health service and the broader
medical establishment.
Opportunity costs and local health service spending decisions: a qualitative study from Wales
