Content of advertisements for junior doctors: is there sufficient detail?

Abstract

To determine whether employers follow BMA guidelines on advertisements when advertising for junior doctors. Survey of advertisements for junior doctors in the BMJ's classified advertisements supplement from 12 March to 14 May 1994. 300 advertisements for substantive posts for junior doctors. Compliance with BMA guidelines, compared by grade, specialty, and employer (trust or regional health authority); observation of any useful information not included in the guidelines. Only eight advertisements included all the recommended information. Amount of information given was related to grade, specialty, or employer in only one respect: advertisements for basic trainees were more likely than those for higher specialist trainees to include information on pay and hours of work (P < 0.001). Advertisements for junior doctors in the BMJ do not comply with BMA guidelines and often contain little useful information for potential applicants.