The big OE: New Zealand dental graduates' self-reported experience of working overseas
Wong, B.K.J.; Theobald, A.H.; Thomson, W.Murray.; Quick, A.
New Zealand Dental Journal 102(2): 35-38
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-8047 PMID: 16773795 Document Number: 599197
Recent dental workforce reports have highlighted a poorer-than-expected cohort remainder rate for recent New Zealand dental graduates, and it is not currently clear whether this trend reflects the permanent loss of some of New Zealand's new dental workforce, or is the continuation of what may be considered to have been a "rite of passage" for new dental graduates. To examine the working and travelling patterns (if any) of New Zealand dental graduates, specifically to ascertain the most common countries in which New Zealand graduates have practised, the number of years of experience acquired before leaving, and the length of time spent overseas before returning. A nationwide survey was posted to a random sample of 600 general dental practitioners (GDPs) requesting sociodemographic details and information on whether or not they had practised dentistry overseas. The response rate was 81.2 percent, and 368 of the 449 respondents were NZ graduates. Overall, 215 (58.4 percent) had practised overseas. The United Kingdom (47.6 percent) and Australia (9.8 percent) were the two most common countries for those who had done so. A larger proportion of male practitioners had practised outside New Zealand, and those who graduated earlier were also more likely to have practised overseas, and in the United Kingdom. After controlling for gender, those with 15-30 years in practice were 2.4 times more likely to have practised overseas (95 percent CI 1.5, 4.0), while those with 31+ years of experience were 4.4 times more likely to have done so (95 percent CI 2.4, 8.2). Despite some recent changes, gaining experience overseas continues to be a feature of practice for New Zealand dental graduates.