Factors influencing trainee doctor emigration in a high income country: a mixed methods study

Table 1 Characteristics of doctors practicing medicine in Ireland by intention to stay or leave Ireland

		Definitely stay		Probably stay		Undecided		Probably leave		Definitely leave		Total		P
		n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Sex
	Female	47	20	93	39	45	19	34	14	21	9	240	100
	Male	29	17	62	36	44	26	19	11	17	10	171	100	0.454
Age
Mean (IQR)		32.4	(29–35)	33	(30–35)	32.4	(29–34)	32.9	(30–37)	32.3	(30–35)	32.7	(30–35)
	0–	20	20	38	38	24	24	11	11	7	7	100	100
	30–	33	17	67	35	43	23	27	14	21	11	191	100	0.804
	35–	24	20	51	42	21	17	15	12	10	8	121	100
Entry route^a
	DEM	48	20	101	41	47	19	28	11	20	8	244	100
	GEM	12	17	26	36	20	28	7	10	7	10	72	100	0.531
	Non-EU fees	4	12	11	33	8	24	4	12	6	18	33	100
Employment status
Private/other^b		20	27	33	44	11	15	8	11	3	4	75	100
	Public	58	17	125	36	81	23	45	13	36	10	345	100	0.051
Happy with work-life balance
	No	20	11	56	31	54	30	28	16	22	12	180	100
	Yes	58	24	102	42	39	16	25	10	17	7	241	100	<0.001
Relationship status
	Married	39	20	70	36	39	20	29	15	17	9	194	100
	Other	38	17	86	39	50	23	24	11	21	10	219	100	0.662
Children
	No	47	18	97	36	59	22	36	14	27	10	266	100
	Yes	30	21	58	40	28	19	17	12	11	8	144	100	0.729
Current grade^c
	SHO	14	21	23	34	16	24	8	12	7	10	68	100
	Registrar	19	22	28	32	18	21	14	16	8	9	87	100
	GP trainee	6	16	15	39	13	34	2	5	2	5	38	100
	SpR	19	13	66	44	32	21	20	13	13	9	150	100	0.191
	GP	9	18	21	41	12	24	5	10	4	8	51	100
	Consultant	10	42	6	25	2	8	2	8	4	17	24	100
	Other	1	33	0	0	0	0	1	33	1	33	3	100
Bullied in Ireland
	No	34	22	60	39	33	22	15	10	10	7	152	100
	Yes	44	16	99	37	60	22	38	14	29	11	270	100	0.253
Return to Ireland
	Likely			86	84	60	68	32	60	20	51	198	70
	Unlikely			17	17	28	32	21	40	19	49	85	30	< 0.001

^a DEM medical school entrant direct from secondary school final exam, GEM medical school entrant with a graduate degree
^bPrivate/other: other category includes research (n = 13), maternity leave (n = 16), career break (n = 3), not working (n = 1) and other (n = 12)
^cGrade in order of seniority: SHO Senior House Officer, GP trainee General Practitioner trainee, SpR Specialist registrar, GP General Practitioner

ISSN: 1478-4491