Abstract
To investigate International Medical Graduate (IMG) perspectives on opportunities to share technical knowledge and professional experience with host country professionals and mechanisms for this.
All IMGs from the UK registered with the New Zealand Medical Council who had arrived within the decade to 2014 were surveyed (n = 1357). The main outcome measures were respondent perceptions of host country receptivity to their potential knowledge contribution, and mechanisms through which knowledge might be shared.
The survey response rate was 47 % (n = 632). 82 % of respondents agreed colleagues had been receptive to their knowledge contribution; 67 % felt they had been encouraged to share professional knowledge gained abroad; 60 % agreed they had been encouraged to share knowledge of the UK or other health systems. Only 45 % believed there were clear mechanisms in place for knowledge sharing. Statistically significant differences by age and professional practice designation were found.
Knowledge transfer in the New Zealand context appeared to be relatively ad hoc. Options for improving knowledge transfer include formal organisational arrangements, use of knowledge brokers and building communities of practice in different areas.