Teaching and mentoring
Recognising International Medical Graduates who may benefit from tailored support
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Researchers compared the odds of passing the MRCGP between UK graduates, International Medical Graduates (IMGs) with an English Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ), who trained in countries with English, or non-English as a first language and IMGs with a non-English PMQ.
IMGs who trained in countries with non-English as a first language had statistically significantly lower odds of passing the exams and lower exam scores. There were significant positive correlations between past MSRA, IELTs and PLAB scores and MRCGP exam scores.
A PMQ in the English language/ undertaking medical training in a country with English as the native language are associated with significantly better chances of passing the MRCGP.
Performance in pre-qualification assessments can help identify IMG trainees who may benefit from tailored support.
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WiseGP Actions
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Explore with your practice GP registrar on induction where they undertook their PMQ and their performance in pre-qualification assessments, to help identify trainees who would benefit from tailored support.
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Find out more about the research informing this GEM: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39362692/
Ethnicity and Performance in the MRCGP Assessment
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A cross-sectional study investigated differential attainment in all UK general practice licensing tests (2016-2021), comparing ethnic minority with White doctors. 3429 doctors of different ethnic groups (White British 53.95%, minority ethnic 43.04%, and mixed 3.01%), country of primary medical qualification (UK 76.76% versus non-UK 23.24%), sex and declared disability, were included.
Ethnic background did not reduce the chance of passing GP licensing tests once sex, place of primary medical qualification, declared disability and Multi-Speciality Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) scores were considered.
Ethnic minority doctors did significantly better compared to White British doctors in the AKT (odds ratio [OR] 2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03 to 4.10, P = 0.042). There were no significant differences on other assessments.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) performed significantly less well than UK-trained graduates in the CSA, RCA and ARCP, but not the AKT.
Both White (OR 0.19, 95% CI = 0.07 to 0.48, P=0.001) and ethnic minority (OR 0.15, 95% CI=0.08 to 0.30, P<0.001) doctors not graduating in the UK performed significantly less well on the CSA, but this was not the case for ethnic minority doctors graduating in the UK (OR 0.55, 95% CI = 0.28 to 1.09, P = 0.086). Only ethnic minority doctors not graduating in the UK performed significantly less well on the RCA (OR 0.11, 95% CI = 0.03 to 0.45, P=0.002).
Being a White or ethnic minority IMG predicted a significantly lower likelihood of obtaining only standard ARCP outcomes, but this was not the case for ethnic minority UK graduates.
MSRA scores were highly predictive for GP training end-point assessments (AKT, CSA, RCA, WPBA and ARCP).
Suggested WiseGP actions:
GP Registrars who scored low in the MSRA or obtained their primary medical qualification outside the UK, may need additional support during training to maximise their chances of achieving licensing. Does your region ensure fair allocation of more sought-after training practices/ rotations and is any enhanced educational provision offered if needed? (Read more about the possible reasons behind differential attainment in IMGs in the original article).
Scroll down to the next WiseGP GEM, where we discuss a Social Prescribing Scheme Pilot established for IMG GP Registrars in Yorkshire and the Humber. Could your area support a similar scheme to support the holistic wellbeing of your GP Registrars?
Read more about the research informing this GEM:
