Allison M Crump1, Karie Jeter2, Samantha Mullins2, Amber Shadoan2, Craig Ziegler3, William J Crump1. 1. University of Louisville School of Medicine Trover Campus at Baptist Health Madisonville, Madisonville, Kentucky. 2. Trover Rural Track, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky. 3. Office of Graduate/Undergraduate Medical Education, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to determine what effect a rural-based 8-week surgical clerkship during the third year of medical school in a rural setting has on students' opinions about rural living and practice. METHODS: Thirty-three third-year medical students completed a rural health opinion survey at the beginning and end of their 8-week rural rotation and a survey measuring their interest in rural practice after the rotation. The setting was a rural hospital with an average acute care census of 100 that is a regional referral center for 5 rural counties. FINDINGS: Urban campus-based students had a statistically significant positive change in opinions about rural comfortable living, availability of quality services, community support, and medical resources. The urban campus-based students also showed a significantly increased interest in small town practice after the rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Our hypothesis that urban-based students would report an increased level of rural community support at the end of the rotation was confirmed. These urban-based students also reported positive opinions about rural living and practice. The students primarily based at the urban campus also showed a statistically significant more positive attitude toward pursuing a career in a small town after the 8-week experience. This suggests that brief rural immersion experiences may make the larger student pool at an urban campus available to address rural workforce challenges. Future studies at multiple rural sites with a larger sample size are needed to confirm this possibility.
PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to determine what effect a rural-based 8-week surgical clerkship during the third year of medical school in a rural setting has on students' opinions about rural living and practice. METHODS: Thirty-three third-year medical students completed a rural health opinion survey at the beginning and end of their 8-week rural rotation and a survey measuring their interest in rural practice after the rotation. The setting was a rural hospital with an average acute care census of 100 that is a regional referral center for 5 rural counties. FINDINGS: Urban campus-based students had a statistically significant positive change in opinions about rural comfortable living, availability of quality services, community support, and medical resources. The urban campus-based students also showed a significantly increased interest in small town practice after the rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Our hypothesis that urban-based students would report an increased level of rural community support at the end of the rotation was confirmed. These urban-based students also reported positive opinions about rural living and practice. The students primarily based at the urban campus also showed a statistically significant more positive attitude toward pursuing a career in a small town after the 8-week experience. This suggests that brief rural immersion experiences may make the larger student pool at an urban campus available to address rural workforce challenges. Future studies at multiple rural sites with a larger sample size are needed to confirm this possibility.
Authors: Claire Than; Emmeline Chuang; Donna L Washington; Jack Needleman; Ismelda Canelo; Lisa S Meredith; Elizabeth M Yano Journal: Womens Health Issues Date: 2020-02-22
Authors: Boaz Shulruf; Gary Velan; Lesley Forster; Anthony O'Sullivan; Peter Harris; Silas Taylor Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2019-10-18 Impact factor: 2.463