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Urban washout: How strong is the rural-background effect?

Urban washout: How strong is the rural-background effect?

  • May 6, 2015
  • John C. Hogenbirk MSc, Matthew R. McGrail PhD, Roger Strasser MBBS, MCISc, FRACGP, FACRRM, Sara A. Lacarte MA, Ajay Kevat MBBS, Michael Lewenberg BEc, DipEd
  • Article

The study aimed to identify predictors of practice location for Monash University MBBS graduates. It surveyed doctors from rural and urban backgrounds who started at Monash between 1992 and 1999. Results showed that rural background significantly predicted rural practice locations both initially and currently, with general practitioners more likely to practice rurally than other specialists. Preference for rural practice in the future was also linked to rural background and positive intentions towards rural practice upon graduation. Over time, some doctors shifted their preferred practice location from rural to urban, indicating the need for ongoing support for rural practice during training and beyond.

  • Source: The Australian Journal of Rural Health

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