Who Wants to Fly? A Descriptive Analysis of Clinician Interest in a Career in Prehospital and Retrieval Medicine

Abstract

Objective

This study aims to describe the epidemiology of critical care clinicians seeking careers in prehospital and retrieval medicine (PHRM) in Queensland.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort exploratory analysis of data from Queensland Health's 2023 Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Campaign, with subgroup analysis to demonstrate the demographics and interest from the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), College of Intensive Care Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

Results

Of the applicants to Queensland's RMO Campaign, 32% had potential interest in a career in PHRM, with no statistical difference between the demographics of these groups. The median age of the applicants was 31 years, with ACRRM trainees having the youngest interested cohort. Furthermore, 68% trainees from core PHRM colleges were interested in PHRM, with ANZCA trainees having the lowest interest (52%) and ACEM having the highest (77%).

Conclusion

There was significant interest in a career in PHRM, with ACEM trainees having the highest interest. There are significant differences in age, sex, and postgraduate study year in critical care colleges. As the PHRM field continues to evolve, understanding these demographic trends and training preferences is pivotal for fostering the growth of this subspecialty.