Do Medical Graduates from a Rural Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship Work in Similar Rural Communities?
Author Information
Author(s): Jessica Beattie, Lara Fuller, Marley J. Binder, Laura Gray, Vincent L. Versace, Gary D. Rogers
Primary Institution: Deakin University
Hypothesis
Are Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) graduates practicing in communities with similar rural classification to those where they trained?
Conclusion
Graduates who trained in a combination of rural settings, including an LIC, were most likely to practice in communities similar to their training locations.
Supporting Evidence
- LIC graduates who undertook an additional year of rural training were five times more likely to work in communities of similar rurality.
- Graduates with a rural background were more likely to work in rural communities.
- Both LIC training pathways produced the highest proportion of graduates working as GPs in rural areas.
Takeaway
This study shows that medical students who train in rural areas are more likely to work in similar rural places after they graduate.
Methodology
A retrospective cohort study analyzing variables associated with working in smaller rural communities.
Potential Biases
The small number of graduates who undertook the LIC may limit the generalizability of the results.
Limitations
The study relied on registered practice locations, which may not reflect all work locations of graduates.
Participant Demographics
50.5% female, 28.4% had a return of service obligation, 27.3% from a rural background.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 2.2–13.4
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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