Abstract
Background
In recent years, attrition from Emergency Medicine (EM) training in Ireland has increased. Australian data illustrates that increasing numbers of Irish-trained doctors are embarking on EM training in Australia. This has implications for EM in Ireland, particularly for Emergency Departments already under strain. An adequate supply of qualified specialist EM doctors is essential to provide high-quality patient care.
Aims
The aim of this study is to gain insights into the reasons for attrition from EM training in Ireland.
Methods
EM trainees who exited EM training in Ireland 2011–2016 were invited to complete a survey which included quantitative and free-text questions.
Results
Of 43 doctors who had exited EM training, 71% responded and although some respondents spoke positively about the speciality, overall, their feedback illustrated levels of frustration and dissatisfaction with EM training in Ireland. Respondents exited their EM training programme due to a lack of training received, despite being formally registered on an Irish EM training scheme. The other factors raised included dissatisfaction with the general working conditions in EM in Ireland with respondents highlighting heavy workloads, high work intensity, stress, staff shortages, and poor work-life balance.
Conclusions
Our findings indicate the need to improve training and working conditions in Emergency Medicine in Ireland. These improvements are necessary to reduce attrition and improve retention of EM staff.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pflipsen J, Kennedy U (2015) The escape of emergency medicine trainees from Ireland. Emerg Med J 32:1003–1004. https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2015-205372.56
Australian College for Emergency Medicine (2016) Specialist emergency medicine workforce and training activities 2015. ACEM, Melbourne
O’Conor E (2018) Address to members of the Oireachtas, Leinster House, 17 January 2018. Dublin: Irish Association for Emergency Medicine. http://www.iaem.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Address-by-Dr-Emily-OConor-President-IAEM-to-the-Oireachtas-170118.pdf. Accessed 18 January 2019
Brugha R, Cronin F, Clarke N et al (2018) Retaining our doctors: medical workforce evidence, 2013–18. Dublin: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. https://epubs.rcsi.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=ephmrep. Accessed 18 January 2019
Nally D, Fleming AC, Fenelon C et al (2018) A survey on attrition from a national surgical training programme over 11 years. http://www.inmed.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/OP62.-Deirdre-Nally-RCSI.pdf. Accessed 18 January 2019
McDermott C, Sheridan M, Moore K, Gosbell A (2015) The medical boomerang: will it come back? Emerg Med J 32(4):330–332
Humphries N, Morgan K, Conry M et al (2014) Quality of care and health professional burnout: narrative literature review. Int J Health Care Qual Assur 27(4):293–307
Humphries N, Crowe S, McDermott C, McAleese S, Brugha R (2017) The consequences of Ireland’s culture of medical migration. Hum Resour Health 15:87
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the support provided by the Irish Committee for Emergency Medicine Training for assistance in identifying eligible study participants for the study. Also, we would like to thank the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine for assisting us with overseas data collection. We are very grateful for the help with statistical analysis from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland biostatistical consulting support services. We would also like to extend our thanks to the Research Ethics Committee Convenor, for all her support in organising research ethics permission. Our special thanks are given to all participants in this study who offered valuable and powerful insights regarding their views of Emergency Medicine training.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
JP, NH, CMcD, and EMD planned the study. JP and CMcD conducted the data collection and JP and NH the data analysis. JP prepared all drafts and redrafts of the paper. NH, CMcD, and EMD provided editorial comment on the draft versions. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
The study was conducted in February 2016 with ethical approval from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pflipsen, J., McDermott, C., Doherty, E.M. et al. Why our doctors are leaving Irish emergency medicine training. Ir J Med Sci 188, 1397–1399 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-019-01976-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-019-01976-y