How the training pathways and capacity of rural physicians inform their scope of practice: A qualitative study examining the experiences of Australian and international medical graduates in South-East New South Wales, Australia.

Introduction: Current strategies to address shortages of rural doctors focus on developing a pipeline for rural generalist practice. Limited research has explored how doctors' professional journey engenders the skills required to practice rurally.

Objective: This paper analyses how rural general practitioners' clinical pathway informs their scope of practice and future retention.

Developing interconnectedness is critical in retaining rural general practitioners: A qualitative thematic analysis of recently recruited general practitioners to South East New South Wales, Australia.

Australia, in common with many countries globally, has a shortage of doctors working rurally. Whilst strategies and current research focus on recruitment, attrition from rural practice is a significant determinant of such shortages. Understanding doctors' decisions to stay or leave, once recruited, may provide further insights on how to address this rural differential.