Challenges with international medical graduate selection: finding positive attributes predictive of success in family medicine residency

Abstract

Background Criteria to select residents most likely to succeed, other than proficiency of their medical knowledge, is a challenge facing preceptors. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) play an integral role in mitigating the high demand for family medicine physicians across Canada. Thus, selecting IMG candidates that have a high probability of succeeding in Canadian educational settings is important. The purpose of this study is to elucidate qualitative attributes that positively correspond to success in residency, to ultimately assist in the selection of IMG residents most likely to achieve family medicine residency. Methods Interviews of 13 family medicine preceptors from some of the largest IMG training sites in Canada were performed to collect original data. The data was coded in tandem sequences using standardized coding techniques to increase robustness of results. Results The identified positive predictors of an IMG residents’ success are: presence of a positive attitude, proficient communication skills, high level of clinical knowledge, trainability. Conclusions The results provide adequate guidelines to assist in selection of IMG residents. Canada is a unique sociocultural setting where standardized selection methods of IMGs have not been employed. By selecting IMG residents who possess these attributes upon inception of residency, benefits of instruction will be maximized and result in residents developing increased aptitudes for patient care.

Is it really a challenge to find positive attributes for international medical graduates predictive of success in family medicine residency?

“…Finally, in the original paper [1], the study protocol is described as asking preceptors "reflective questions, which provoked them to draw on examples of exceptional and poor IMG performers they have taught and selected, " (Pg 2) yet there is no indication in Table 2 of the original paper [1] of what questions may have been used to provoke examples of poor IMG performers, and therefore no way of knowing whether interview questions may have provoked biased or negative responses from participants that may have contributed to the bias and negative tone observed in this paper. Also interesting in the study design is that the authors chose to limit the study's focus to "examples of exceptional and poor IMG performers" and did not choose to expand the study to encompass "exceptional and poor CMG performers. "…”

“…In their paper "Challenges with international medical graduate selection: finding positive attributes predictive of success in family medicine residency, " [1] the authors report on their research into qualitative attributes that positively correspond to success in residency with the objective of assisting in the selection of International Medical Graduate (IMG) residents most likely to achieve success in family medicine residency. The authors found that positive predictors of IMG residents' success were: presence of a positive attitude, proficient communication skills, high level of clinical knowledge, and trainability.…”