josephml1
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Please if you apply and have a pass standing in the MCCEE, please feel free to add your experience and any good TIPS about the examination.
That would be very appreciated for all the MCCEE January and future appliers
___________________
JOSEPH
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| shamimdmck56
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hi josephml1
regarding ee exam, my experience is i passed the sept session 07. to me morning session was a bit tougher than afternoon session. timing was sometimes a problem. public health was the segment i had relatively difficulty to face. many of the questions i found unseen like from research studies on aids and other public health issues. i found 3 or 4 questions on aids public health aspects. so i found myself weaker in PH than the rest.
repeatation was not that much as i had expected. i guess 15-18 questions was repeated out of 300 (both sessions). questions covered from most of the chapters of toronto notes.
tips.
1.toronto notes is more than enough to pass
2.drug doses can be avoided for prep, but need to learn treatment options, drug names, investigations (very important)
3.self practice exam on last 10 years ques. is very very very helpful
4.dont need to go through usmle books
5.revision of key topics of toronto notes well
etc. good luck.
shamim
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| josephml1
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 7
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Thank you very much Shamim that information is going to be very useful... 
I really appreciate the help and the tips.
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JOSEPH
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| shamimdmck56
Forum Newbie
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you are welcome joseph.
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| salo
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 52
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hi joseph, took mine in sep2007...i used usmlestep2 ck books(kaplan) and MCQs (UW) as i had step2 exam a week after mccee...anyways exam was not easy some Qs way easy and some were impossibly hard...esp. i felt that the color pics and related Qs were hard(2-3 pages of skin lesions,xray etc) quality of pics was pathetic....time was more than enuf esp. if u hv taken any of the step ..finished both >30min bf alloted time.even if u use toronto notes use a good MCQ source (kaplan ,UW) many ppl use old mccqe qs but i didnt hv those besides i dont think it'll be a good practice(no answers avail.,no time management and no feedbak on performance) i hv heard step3 Qs are also good for mccqe.well step2 prep worked really well for me and i managed to get good score...
good luck with ur exam.
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| dion
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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you can find loads of questions on medicallecture.net enjoy
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| josephml1
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 7
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Thanks Salo and Thanks Dion...
I am studding from the Toronto notes and also from old questions from the UW, and old MCCEE questions.
I am reading thousands of questions I hope that will be enough.
I am a little ansious to be totally honest.
I hope everything goes well with the examination.
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JOSEPH
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| waseem84
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Posts: 12
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Hii everybody,
I've a question. If I give the Oct /nov,2008 mcqe1, will the programs consider its score/ results? I have heard it's too late by the time oct/nov qe1 results are announced and the programs don't consider that??
is it true?
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| shamimdmck56
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 22
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hi waseem
regarding your question, what you have heard is partially correct, i guess. i mean, whether application submitted, after deadline/opening date of reviewing files, will be considered or not depends on which program somebody is applying to. for example, if anybody is applying for internal medicine on 1st iteration 08, application has to be completed before december 04,2007 when they will open file reviewing. and they wont consider application beyond that date.
on the other side, if anybody plans to apply for general surgery, they are gonna consider application beyond dec 04, 2007.
in above two cases, the rule is similar for both CMGs and IMGs. but interestingly, family medicine shows up with difference. they will consider application from CMGs but not from IMGs beyond that dead line. all i have mentioned is regarding time schedule for 1st iteration for Match 08. but if anybody who misses 1st iteration has chance for 2nd iteration too. so it wont be much of a problem. for your details you can see carms program descriptions and time schedule. i hope it will help you regarding that query. thanks.
shamim
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| waseem84
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 12
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Thanks Shamim, It really helped. I have decided to give my mccee in sept not in may coz i will graduate in aug next year n am afraid if i gave mccee in may(just to be eligible for the qe1 which many programs wont consider) I will not get a good score.
thanks again
waseem
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| shamimdmck56
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 22
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u are welcome waseem and goodluck on your mccee. by the way, where are you studying now..
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| waseem84
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 12
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Thanks shamim, currently am studying in pakistan
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| josephml1
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 7
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The time is comming for the January MCCEE session...
For all the MCCEE January appliers where are you going to have your examination...
Mine is going to be in Vancouver.
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JOSEPH
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| doctoris
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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Hi ,
I am studing now for MCCEE . I need very much old questions. Please SEND ME MCCEE MCQ'S.
MY E MAIL ADDRESS:nadyais@netscape.ca
thanks in advanse .
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| nilan
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 10
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Im writing my MCCEE in May 2008. Can someone please email me the questions of old exam. / tell me where i can find those. Im studying in Toronto.
Thank you in advance.
thani_4@hotmail.com
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| depressed1
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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hi friends am really depressed, dont know how to study for qe1 exam, pls any1 there who is getting ready for the same reply.................have no prev qs ...........pls help and some1 motivate......
depressed!
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| depressed1
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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MY EMAIL ADRESS IS;; drworried@yahoo.com
thanks you..
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| benming
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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to shamimdmck56 or people know the answer
thank you and other people in this forum for your valuable info regarding MCCEE. I have questions for you:
which is the book title for MCC practice questions from U of T, I am trying to get it at local library
what is "self practice exam" all about? also from U of T?
thank you again
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| CanDoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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Hello everyone. i have read alot of different posts and i really like the fact that everyone here is trying to help someone or either trying to get information. thats very good for us IMG's.
well i am an IMG and i would like to know a little about becomming a doctor in Canada. and yes i have read alot of posts from other members and i see alot of people saying that its impossible. well im sure its hard but at least we can try..
i am a Canadian citizen studying overseas and will finish my medical education very soon. what i want to know is that i have visited alot of websites and it says that in different places like saskatchewan or new found land and places like that who are not that much developed. you can get a provincial or either a temporary liecence? does anyone know anything about that? and please dont reply with stuff that you have heard from someone. please reply with facts.
also i will get about 1 or even more post graduate year experience and what will my chances be then.
the reason i am clerifying my situation is that i see alot of posts talking about different figure doctors in canada not being able to get a job or either residency. well my question is that how many of these doctors are legal? then how many of these doctors have passed the required exems. as the MCCEE, MCCQE1 and 2? then my question is that how many have done some post graduate year trainig?
dont get my wrong i am not against any IMgs or anybody. i just want to get the facts right. i perosonally lived in Canada for a long time or should i say lived there all my life before going to another country to medical school. in my time living there i have not met even a single person who was a doctor and who was competent enough and was roaming the streets with out a job. thats just my experience.
please if someone has some information regarding canada with proper facts then please do post it in your reply....
thank you.
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| shamimdmck56
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 22
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Hi benming
Regarding your query, I guess the book tiltle was 'LMCC: Practice Examination Questions for Qualifying Examination-1'
Keep trying in other names too. I actully photocopied the main portions of these booklets for questions and avoided the title pages. Best way to find them i guess is to search in local university library which has its medical faculty. goodluck.
shamim
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| shamimdmck56
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 22
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hi candoc.
welcome to this forum.
well, you have raised many different issues which are really concerning. i appreciate your concern.
becoming a doctor in canada as an IMG is tough for sure. as you know there are lots of barriers. there is a separate stream for IMGs only in most provinces where they have to compete with each other for a limited number of posts specified by quotas in different universities.
regarding temporary licences, probably it is true that some provinces give temporary working opportunities funded by their local community. but i havent heard about any one who has tried for it. you can share if you know something more about that.
as you have mentioned about exams, all IMGs have to pass ee and qe1 exams before applying for residencies. ther is no other alternative ways to work as an MD. post grad experience is an asset but not a requirement. regarding chances of IMGs becoming a doc here is an article published on www.cfpc.ca
and my bottom line is you might have more chances than me..
shamim
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Contents
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Research
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• Other issues: • December 2005• November 2005• October 2005• September 2005• August 2005• July 2005• June 2005• May 2005• April 2005• March 2005• February 2005• January 2005
• Other years: • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001
Research
Canadian and immigrant international medical graduates
Olga Szafran, MHSA Rodney A. Crutcher, MD, MMEDED, CCFP(EM), FCFP Sandra R. Banner Mamoru Watanabe, MD, PHD, FRCPC
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To compare the demographic and educational characteristics of Canadian international medical graduates (IMGs) and immigrant IMGs who applied to the second iteration of the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) match in 2002.
DESIGN Web-based questionnaire survey.
SETTING The study was conducted during the second-iteration CaRMS match in Canada.
PARTICIPANTS The sampling frame included the entire population of IMG registrants for the 2002 CaRMS match in Canada who expressed interest in applying for a ministry-funded residency position in the 13 English-speaking Canadian medical schools. Those who immigrated to Canada with medical degrees were categorized as immigrant IMGs. Canadian citizens and landed immigrants or permanent residents who left Canada to obtain a medical degree in another country were defined as Canadian IMGs.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Demographic characteristics, education and training outside Canada, examinations taken, previous applications for a residency position, preferred type of practice, and barriers and supports were compared.
RESULTS Out of 446 respondents who indicated their immigration status and education, 396 (88.8%) were immigrant IMGs and 50 (11.2%) were Canadian IMGs. Immigrant IMGs tended to be older, be married, and have dependent children. Immigrant IMGs most frequently obtained their medical education in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, or Africa, whereas Canadian IMGs most frequently obtained their medical degrees in Asia, the Caribbean, or Europe. Immigrant IMGs tended to have more years of postgraduate training and clinical experience. A significantly greater proportion of immigrant IMGs had perceived that there were insufficient opportunities for assessment, financial barriers to training, and licensing barriers to practice. Nearly half (45.5%) of all IMGs selected family medicine as their first choice of clinical discipline to practise in Canada. There were no significant differences between Canadian and immigrant IMGs in terms of first choice of clinical discipline (family medicine vs specialty). There were no significant differences between the groups in the number of times they applied to CaRMS in the past, but a relatively greater proportion of Canadian IMGs obtained residency positions.
CONCLUSION There are notable similarities and some significant differences between Canadian and immigrant IMGs seeking to practise medicine in Canada.
RÉSUMÉ
OBJECTIF Comparer les caractéristiques démographiques et la formation des médecins canadiens et immigrants diplômés hors Canada (DHC) qui se sont présentés au deuxième tour du jumelage du système CaRMS (Canadian Resident Matching Service) en 2002.
TYPE D’ÉTUDE Étude par questionnaire via Internet.
CONTEXTE L’étude a eu lieu durant le second tour du jumelage CaRMS au Canada.
PARTICIPANTS Le cadre d’échantillonnage incluait tous les médecins DHC inscrits au jumelage CaRMS de 2002 au Canada qui se montraient intéressés à décrocher un poste de résidence rémunéré par le ministère dans une des 13 facultés de médecine anglophones canadiennes. Ceux qui détenaient un diplôme de médecine avant d’arriver au Canada ont été qualifiés d’immigrants DHC. Les citoyens canadiens et les immigrants reçus qui sont allés obtenir leur diplôme à l’étranger sont appelés Canadiens DHC.
PRINCIPAUX PARAMÈTRES ÉTUDIÉS On a comparé les caractéristiques démographiques, l’instruction et la formation à l’étranger, les examens effectués, les candidatures antérieures à des postes de résidence, le type de pratique souhaité, et les obstacles et ressources éventuels.
RÉSULTATS Sur 446 répondants qui ont indiqué leur statut d’immigrant et précisé leur formation, 396 (88%) étaient des immigrants DHC et 50 (11,2%) des Canadiens DHC. En général, les immigrants DHC étaient plus vieux, étaient mariés et avaient des enfants à charge. Ils avaient souvent été formés en Asie, en Europe de l’Est, au Moyen-Orient ou en Afrique, tandis que les Canadiens DHC avaient fréquemment fait leurs études médicales en Asie, dans les Caraïbes ou en Europe. Dans l’ensemble, les immigrants DHC avaient plus d’années de formation post-md et une plus longue expérience clinique. Une proportion significativement plus grande d’immigrants DHC avaient eu l’impression qu’il n’y avait pas assez de possibilités d’évaluation, qu’il y avait des obstacles financiers à la formation et certaines difficultés pour obtenir le permis de pratique. Près de la moitié (45,5%) de tous les DHC avaient choisi la médecine familiale comme premier champ de pratique au Canada. Il n’y avait pas de différence significative entre les deux groupes pour ce qui est du champ de pratique choisi en premier (médecine familiale vs spécialité). Il n’y en avait pas non plus pour le nombre d’inscriptions antérieures au CaRMS; toutefois, une proportion relativement plus grande de Canadiens DHC avaient obtenus des postes de résidence.
CONCLUSION Il y a des similitudes remarquables et quelques différences importantes entre les Canadiens et les immigrants DHC qui désirent pratiquer la médecine au Canada.
This article has been peer reviewed
Cet article a fait l’objet d’une révision par des pairs.
Can Fam Physician 2005;51:1242-1243.
Ms Szafran is Research Coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Dr Crutcher is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and is Director of the Alberta International Medical Graduates Program at the University of Calgary in Alberta. Ms Banner is Executive Director of the Canadian Resident Matching Service in Ottawa, Ont. Dr Watanabe is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
In Canada, the term international medical graduates (IMGs) is used collectively to refer to several types of medical school graduates. It includes Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have gone abroad for their medical education, as well as immigrants to Canada with medical degrees from other countries.
Some IMGs must complete postgraduate residency training in Canada before they can be licensed to practise medicine. Each year, many IMGs apply for residency training through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), a national organization that matches eligible applicants to ministry-funded postgraduate residency positions in the 13 English-speaking Canadian medical schools.
The number of IMGs applying through CaRMS has been steadily increasing, from 240 in 1995 to 657 in 2004.1 During the 2002, 2003, and 2004 CaRMS matches, IMGs accounted for 10.2%, 10%, and 12.4%, respectively, of the total residency positions filled in family medicine and 4.7%, 2.4%, and 2.9%, respectively, of residency positions filled in all the specialty disciplines combined.2-4 During the same period, 75.8%, 40.5%, and 66.7% of vacant residency positions in family medicine and 52.9%, 44.4%, and 48.1% of vacant specialty positions were filled by IMGs during the second-iteration match.2-4 Consequently, IMGs are having a substantial effect on family medicine residency programs across Canada.
Little is known about the various groups of IMGs who seek postgraduate residency training in Canada. A better understanding of the various IMG subgroups could lead to better alignment of IMGs’ and Canadian health system needs. Knowledge of the education and previous experience of IMGs would help us modify postgraduate training programs in family medicine to meet the specific needs of IMGs who hope to practise in Canada. The published literature lacks comparative data on Canadian and immigrant IMGs. A study of IMGs who applied to the 2002 CaRMS match enabled us to compare the demographic and educational characteristics of Canadian IMGs and immigrant IMGs.
METHODS
A Web-based survey was conducted via questionnaire to develop a demographic and educational profile of IMGs who were registered in the second iteration of the 2002 CaRMS match.5 For its purposes, CaRMS defines IMGs as graduates of a World Health Organization–listed medical school, and not from a Canada- or US-accredited medical school.6 The CaRMS match occurs in two iterations. The first iteration is restricted to Canadian medical school graduates who graduated in the year of the match. The second iteration is open to all applicants who did not match in the first iteration, graduates from previous years, and eligible IMGs.
The sampling frame included the entire population of IMG registrants for the 2002 CaRMS match who expressed interest in applying for ministry-funded residency positions in the 13 English-speaking Canadian medical schools (French-speaking medical schools in Quebec do not participate in the CaRMS match). International medical graduate applicants were invited to participate in the survey via a notice on the CaRMS website. The survey was conducted during the 4 weeks immediately before the 2002 CaRMS match. Access to the Web-based questionnaire was via the applicant’s CaRMS identification number. To maintain confidentiality, the CaRMS identification number was removed and replaced with an arbitrary number before data were released to investigators. To eliminate any perception that applicants’ responses jeopardized their opportunities through the match, the data were released to investigators after results of the second-iteration match were announced.
The paper-based version of the questionnaire was pilot-tested on a group of four IMGs enrolled in the Alberta IMG program. The survey included questions on demographic characteristics; undergraduate medical education and postgraduate training; type of practice desired in Canada; attempts to obtain a medical licence and residency position in Canada; perceived barriers; and opportunities for assessment, training, and practice.
We used data on immigration and education to assign IMGs to two groups. Those who immigrated to Canada with medical degrees were categorized as immigrant IMGs. Canadian citizens and landed immigrants or permanent residents who left Canada to obtain medical degrees in other countries were defined as Canadian IMGs. Demographic characteristics, education and training outside Canada, examinations taken, previous applications for a residency position, preferred practice, and barriers and supports were compared between the two groups of IMGs.
Data analysis was primarily descriptive, with frequency distributions and percentages. Chi-square and the Fisher exact test were used to examine differences between groups on selected categorical variables, as appropriate. An alpha level of .01 was used to test for statistical significance.
The study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Board of the University of Alberta and the Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board of the University of Calgary.
RESULTS
Of 659 IMG registrants for the 2002 CaRMS match who were eligible to participate in the Web-based survey, 463 (70.3%) responded. The 446 (96.3%) respondents who indicated their immigration status and education were included in this comparative analysis. Of these, 396 (88.8%) were immigrant IMGs and 50 (11.2%) were Canadian IMGs.
Canadian IMGs were predominantly male, between 25 and 34 years old, and single with no children. Immigrant IMGs tended to be older, to be married, and to have dependent children (Table 1). While 86% of Canadian IMGs obtained their medical degrees between 1997 and 2000, only 8.3% of immigrant IMGs did so in the same period (Table 2). Half (50.5%) of immigrant IMGs graduated before or during 1990. Immigrant IMGs most frequently obtained their medical education in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, or Africa. Canadian IMGs most frequently obtained their medical degrees in Asia, the Caribbean, or Europe. A significantly greater proportion of Canadian IMGs received their medical degrees from Caribbean (P =3.3 x 10-8) or Western European (P =5.5 x 10-5) countries. Whereas 84% of Canadian IMGs completed their medical training in English, only 50% of immigrant IMGs did so. More immigrant IMGs than Canadian IMGs completed rotating internships (89.9% vs 60%) or postgraduate training (75% vs 30%), respectively. Of 297 immigrant IMGs who indicated the medical discipline of the highest qualification obtained outside of Canada, 216 (72.7%) were in various specialties (primarily in surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, or internal medicine) and 81 (27.3%) were in family medicine. In contrast, 10 of 15 (66.7%) Canadian IMGs completed family medicine or general practice training outside Canada.
The average number of years of clinical practice was 7.3 for immigrant IMGs and 1 for Canadian IMGs (Table 2). A substantially greater proportion of Canadian IMGs had no clinical practice experience beyond their medical degree.
Overall, a significantly greater proportion of immigrant IMGs had taken the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE), Part 1 and Part 2; Test of English as a Foreign Language; and Test of Spoken English examinations (Table 3).
A significantly greater proportion of immigrant IMGs had perceived that there were insufficient opportunities for assessment, financial barriers to training, and licensing barriers to practice (Table 4). Overall, the top two supports all IMGs identified as being helpful were orientation to medical practice in Canada and having a coach or mentor.
Of all IMGs, 54.5% indicated that their first choice of clinical discipline to practise in Canada was specialty practice, and 45.5% chose family medicine. There were no significant differences between Canadian and immigrant IMGs in terms of first choice of clinical discipline (family medicine vs specialty) or preferred community size of practice location (< 100 000 vs > 100 000 population).
There were also no significant differences between the groups in the number of times (one time vs two or more times) they had applied to CaRMS in the past, which ranged from one to five times, and in the percentage in each group who obtained interviews for residency positions: 20% of Canadian IMGs and 15.7% of immigrant IMGs. There was, however, a significant difference between the groups in the CaRMS match outcome (P =.000009). The 2002 CaRMS match results revealed that 17 (34%) Canadian IMGs and 43 (10.8%) immigrant IMGs in our study obtained residency positions that year, with 13 (76.5%) and 20 (46.5%) of those matched in each group, respectively, being matched to family medicine.
DISCUSSION
This is the first study of Canadian and immigrant IMGs seeking residency training opportunities in Canada. We present information on their demographic diversity, educational background, and clinical experience. Canadian IMGs tend to be younger, recent graduates, relatively inexperienced in clinical practice, returning to Canada for postgraduate training. In contrast, immigrant IMGs are older, are married with dependent children, and often have postgraduate training and considerable clinical practice experience outside Canada. These differences indicate that immigrant IMGs are at a stage in their personal and professional lives different from that of Canadian IMGs.
The countries (Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa) from which immigrant IMGs most frequently obtained their medical degrees reflect the sources of recent immigration to Canada.7 Canadian IMGs most often chose Asian, Caribbean, or European medical schools, and the reasons for these choices of countries are not completely clear. More than 80% of Canadian IMGs completed their medical training in English, indicating that language of instruction could be an important factor in foreign medical school selection.
Immigrant IMGs have more years of training and clinical practice experience than Canadian IMGs in the countries where they trained. Many immigrant IMGs trained in a language other than English and in a different cultural and medical context. Whether cultural differences pose a challenge to training and practice in Canada, and whether immigrant IMGs tend to practise within their cultural and linguistic communities, is worthy of future investigation. Moreover, the degree to which Canadian IMGs experience cultural and medical contexts similar to the contexts of immigrant IMGs trained in the same countries outside Canada also merits further study.
The finding that fewer Canadian IMGs have taken MCCQE Part 2 is consistent with their demographic and educational characteristics, in that they are younger, recent graduates, with little or no postgraduate training and clinical practice, who wish to return to Canada for residency training. As such, there has been no opportunity for them to challenge the MCCQE Part 2 examination.
Although family medicine was not heavily subscribed to by IMGs overall, it was more frequently selected by IMGs in our study (45.5%) than by Canadian medical school graduates in the first iteration of the 2002 CaRMS match (29.6%, 331/1117).8 The older age of IMGs could, in part, contribute to the preference for the shorter training period that family medicine has to offer. The higher preference for family medicine by IMGs is notable, particularly in light of the decreasing interest in family medicine as an initial match choice by Canadian medical graduates. Ensuring an adequate supply of future family physicians is challenging, and such challenges include filling vacant residency positions arising from the first iteration of the CaRMS match. In the 2002 match, 58% (109/188) of vacant positions at the end of the first iteration were in family medicine, and 76% of the 62 family medicine positions in the second iteration were filled by IMGs.2 This pattern of a first-iteration match leaving family medicine positions vacant and the predominance of IMGs filling vacant positions in the second iteration was also noted in the 2003 and 2004 matches.3,4
Assessing the qualifications of IMG applicants is important for admission to family medicine, particularly assessing current clinical skills accurately.9 Such skills include those related to culture, communication, legal issues, ethical concerns, and health system negotiation. Given the heterogeneity of IMG respondents in our survey, it is perhaps unsurprising that Canadian IMGs fared better in the match than immigrant IMGs. Program directors and their residency training colleagues have a very limited time in which to process second-iteration match applications, and it is likely that applicants with some or a sustained grounding in a Canadian context are perceived to pose fewer assessment challenges than those coming exclusively from educational systems that are unfamiliar.10
Both groups of IMGs reported they applied to CaRMS a similar number of times and were equally successful in obtaining interviews. Our findings do not suggest subgroups of IMGs received different treatment. A relatively greater proportion, albeit few in actual number, of Canadian IMGs actually obtained residency positions through the 2002 CaRMS match. This suggests, given similar interview rates, that the interview is key to obtaining a residency position for IMGs. The finding that a relatively higher percentage of Canadian IMGs were matched to family medicine and that immigrant IMGs were equally matched to a specialty or to family medicine is consistent with the finding that more immigrant IMGs were trained in specialties. For IMGs, prior specialty training could be important in obtaining a specialty residency position in Canada.
Limitations
This study has some limitations. The reliability of the self-reported data is unknown. It is possible that some respondents had difficulty understanding some of the questions. While the paper-based version of the questionnaire was pilot-tested, the Web-based version of the questionnaire was not. Respondents are likely to be representative of IMG CaRMS applicants, but are not likely to be representative of all IMGs in Canada. French-speaking Canadian medical schools were not included in the study, as they do not participate in the CaRMS process. This comparative analysis is also based on the assumption that respondents answered accurately the question on immigration status and education; we have no reason to believe otherwise. Given anecdotal evidence, the few Canadian IMGs compared with immigrant IMGs raises the question of whether the number who participated in the CaRMS match indicates the actual number of Canadian IMGs who desire future postgraduate training opportunities in Canada.
Recent years show an increase in the number of IMGs applying to family medicine programs and a decline in the popularity of family medicine as a career choice among Canadian medical graduates. Assuming that Canada wishes to maintain an adequate supply of family physicians, better understanding of barriers that hinder IMGs’ integration into the physician work force and supportive measures that might facilitate integration are needed. The effect of having an increasing number of IMG residents in family medicine residency programs requires thoughtful analysis.
Conclusion
This study describes the demographic characteristics, educational background, and clinical experience of Canadian and immigrant IMGs seeking residency training positions in Canada through the 2002 CaRMS match. Immigrant IMGs are older; have more years of training and clinical experience; and more frequently perceive barriers to assessment, training, and practice. Relatively more Canadian IMGs were successful at obtaining residency positions; most were matched to family medicine. Although family medicine was not heavily selected as the discipline of first choice by all IMGs, it was more frequently selected by IMGs in our study than by Canadian medical school graduates in the first-iteration 2002 CaRMS match.
Acknowledgment
This study was funded by Health Canada. We thank Gayle Rutherford for conducting the literature review for the overall study, Sheila McDonagh for project management leadership, Carolynn Schmidtke for follow-up tracking and data management, and Shufen Edmondstone for secretarial assistance.
Contributors
Ms Szafran participated in development of the study design and of the questionnaire, in ethics application, in data analysis and interpretation, and in manuscript preparation. Dr Crutcher was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the study: research design, questionnaire development, ethics application, data analysis and interpretation, and manuscript preparation. Ms Banner contributed to the development of the study and questionnaire design, creation of the Web-based tool, and interpretation of study findings. Dr Watanabe contributed to the study design, creation of the Web-based survey questionnaire, and interpretation of the findings. All the authors contributed to critical revisions and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Competing interests
None declared
Correspondence to: Ms Olga Szafran, Department of Family Medicine, Research Program, 225 College Plaza, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2C8; telephone (780) 492-4728; fax (780) 492-8595; e-mail Olga.Szafran@ualberta.ca
EDITOR’S KEY POINTS
• International medical graduates (IMGs) in Canada are either immigrants from other countries or Canadians who obtained their MD degrees abroad. Both groups must apply to the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) for postgraduate training.
• In 2002, approximately 650 IMGs applied to CaRMS. In this survey (70% response rate), 89% were immigrant IMGs and 11% were Canadians.
• Immigrant IMGs were older, had more postgraduate experience, and were more likely to be married and have children than Canadian IMGs.
• Forty-five percent of both immigrant and Canadian IMGs chose family medicine compared with 30% of Canadian medical school graduates. Only 11% of immigrant IMGs were accepted for any residency; 34% of Canadians were accepted into residency.
POINTS DE REPÈRE DU RÉDACTEUR
• Au Canada, les médecins diplômés hors Canada (DHC) sont des immigrants d’autres pays ou des Canadiens qui ont obtenu leur diplôme de médecine à l’étranger. Ces deux groupes doivent se présenter au jumelage du système CaRMS pour obtenir des postes de résidence.
• En 2002, environ 650 DHC se sont présentés au CaRMS. Dans cette étude (taux de réponse de 70%), 89% des DHC étaient des immigrants et 11% des Canadiens.
• Par rapport aux Canadiens DHC, les immigrants étaient plus âgés, avaient une plus longue expérience post-md et étaient plus susceptibles d’être mariés et d’avoir des enfants.
• Les Canadiens et les immigrants DHC ont choisi la médecine familiale dans une proportion de 45% comparativement à 30% pour les diplômés des facultés de médecine canadiennes. Seulement 11% des DHC immigrants ont obtenu un poste de résidence contre 34% pour des DHC canadiens.
References
1. Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Second iteration match results for international medical school graduates 1995-2004. Ottawa, Ont: Canadian Resident Matching Service; 2004. Available from: http://www.carms.ca/jsp/main.jsp?path=
../content/statistics/statistics/st_2004#imgs2nd . Accessed 2004 October 22.
2. Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Statistics from the 2002 match. Ottawa, Ont: Canadian Resident Matching Service; 2004. Available from: http://www.carms.ca/jsp/main.jsp?path=
../content/statistics/statistics/st_2002 . Accessed 2004 October 22.
3. Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Statistics from the 2003 match. Ottawa, Ont: Canadian Resident Matching Service; 2004. Available from: http://www.carms.ca/jsp/main.jsp?path=
../content/statistics/statistics/st_2003 . Accessed 2004 October 22.
4. Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Statistics from the 2004 match. Ottawa, Ont: Canadian Resident Matching Service; 2004. Available from: http://www.carms.ca/jsp/main.jsp?path=
../content/statistics/statistics/st_200 4. Accessed 2004 October 22.
5. Crutcher RA, Banner SR, Szafran O, Watanabe M. Characteristics of international medical graduates who applied to the CaRMS 2002 match. CMAJ 2003;168(9):1119-23.
6. Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Eligibility. Ottawa, Ont: Canadian Resident Matching Service; 2004. Available from: http://www.carms.ca/jsp/main.jsp?path=../content/... . Accessed 2004 October 22.
7. Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Facts and figures 2001. Immigration overview. Immigration by source area and top ten source countries. Ottawa, Ont: Citizenship and Immigration Canada; 2002. Available from: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/facts2001/1imm-0... . Accessed 2004 October 22.
8. Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). 2002 Career choices of Canadian students & graduates in the first iteration. Ottawa, Ont: Canadian Resident Matching Service; 2004. Available from: http://www.carms.ca/jsp/main.jsp?path=
../content/statistics/statistics/st_2002#choices. Accessed 2004 October 22.
9. Andrew R, Bates J. Program for licensure for international medical graduates in British Columbia: 7 years’ experience. CMAJ 2000;162(6):801-3.
10. Bates J, Andrew R. Untangling the roots of some IMGs’ poor academic performance. Acad Med 2001;76(1):43-6.
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| CanDoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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Hello. Shamim. thank you for your reply.
thank you for that article. that makes sence.. and why do you say that i have more chance than you? i dont think that. i think we all have equal as long as we try to work as hard as we can.
now you said that we have to pass the EE and QE1.. well i think thats a kind of punishment for us IMG who could not get into Canadian medical colleges for whatever reason lol.. no just kidding. well shamim i really dont mind the exams but as long as i see a future.
i mean as you might have seen alot of people here just talking about canada as being impossible and telling stories. well i think we should not believe that until and unless someone really has proof. i am not saying anyone is lying i am just saying please show me some proof.
and i am fully aware that it will be hard to get a residency.
as for the temporary licence. well i would reccomend that you go to google.ca and put in temporary liecencing in canada. and im sure u will get the required information. i mean to get a temporary liecene it must be a bit of a hassle also but still its good for bigginers.
where have you done your medical school from?
i hope that someone who has been already gone through the whole procedure of getting their residency and passing the exam and all that could just come and tell us IMGs what he or she did and how it was. i think most of us will appreciate that....
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| shamimdmck56
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 22
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hi candoc.
thanks for your post again. as you've wanted to know about the future of imgs, what i have found, IMGs of course are doing good. i know couple of imgs who got residencies here. i ve met few others in my local hospital who are doing good too.
so, they've made their future alright for them, isnt that?
goodluck.
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| tallis
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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Hi friends I need previous practice questions for canada qualifying exams, pls mail me at tallis.doc@gmail.com
I am also looking for study partner .
thank u
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| dr in trouble
Forum Guru
Topics: 62
Posts: 601
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Hi,
i am going to appear in MCCQE in May, any study partners in toronto?? leave me an email ---
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