New Zealand Rural General Practitioners 1999 Survey - Part 1: an overview of the rural doctor workforce and their concerns

Aims. To obtain current information about New Zealand rural general practit ioners (GPs) and their localitites. Methods. An anonymous postal questionnaire was mailed out to 559 rural and semi-rural GPs in November 1999, and non-responders were sent three reminde rs. Results. Of the 417 completed questionnaires returned (response rate 75%), 338 were from rural GPs (Rural Ranking Scale score greater than or equal to 35 points) and these formed the study group. The mean age was 44 years, 72 % were male, and 93% were of New Zealand European ethnicity. Less than 50% had graduated from a New Zealand medical school with Britain (30%) and Sout h Africa (11%) providing most of the foreign-trained rural GPs. Only 59% ha d received vocational training in general practice. The majority worked ful ltime (79%) and owned their practice (78%), while 133 (39%) worked part tim e as rural hospital doctors and 72 (21%) provided intra-partum obstetric ca re. Over two thirds rated lack of locum relief, onerous oncall, and rural G P shortages as 'important' or 'very important' problems. With one third sta ting that more rural GPs were needed in their locality. Conclusions. This, only the second national survey of rural GPs, provides a comprehensive overview of New Zealand rural general practice in November 1 999. It confirms that the major current problem is an under supply of rural GPs, causing overwork and stress in those remaining.