Dermatologists providing services in rural regions experience a range of rewards and challenges depending on the stage of their career and their commitment to living within the community.
A survey of the perspectives of eleven rural dermatologists and six dermatology trainees was carried out by Dr Bethany Croker, a Dermatology Advanced Trainee at Hunter New England Local Health District, NSW, to try inform the long running issue of workforce shortages for regional specialists.
It found that having the freedom to choose to work in a rural area was a key factor in impressions, with those who sought a rural lifestyle or grew up in a rural area tending to be passionate about working rurally.
Other said they preferred rural practice because they wanted to escape the pressures and frustrations of metropolitan areas such as being stuck in traffic.
However, those such as trainees who had little or no choice about working in rural dermatology described downsides such as the challenges of working over long distances.
“I didn’t actually get to pick where I was going and it was quite significantly stressful I think for everyone involved,” said one respondent. “Initially I would drive out to [rural area], I thought that was getting a bit dangerous because I used to get really tired and I have fallen asleep a couple of times on the road and thought it was a huge risk …”
Other described problems with the lack of infrastructure and support services in rural areas, as barriers
“I had to find rooms, I had to find staff, I had to liaise with the local GPs, I had to buy equipment … I won’t say it was easy, I won’t say it was difficult, but it had its challenges.”
However others noted that while they had initially been reluctant to be posted to a rural area, once they experienced the work they had a change in perspective and began to enjoy the work and lifestyle.