The effect of a rural preceptorship during residency on practice site selection and interest in rural practice.

Rural areas of the United States face serious shortages in health care personnel. This report evaluates the effect of a rural preceptorship during the second or third year of a family practice residency on interest in rural practice and on practice site selection. A majority of participants (n = 123) felt that this experience influenced their choice of a practice site. Furthermore, a large majority felt that it increased their interest in rural practice opportunities. Rural preceptorships during residency are a timely solution to increase the number of family physicians interested in rural practice.