The Australian Rural Clinical School (RCS) program supports rural medical workforce: evidence from a cross-sectional study of 12 RCSs

Abstract

Committee approved the overall collation and analysis of the data from individual universities (approval 016190S). Each university gained approval from their institution's HREC to provide the deidentified data.

‘They are inconveniencing us’ - exploring how gaps in patient education and patient centred approaches interfere with TB treatment adherence: perspectives from patients and clinicians in the Free State Province, South Africa

“…This study was conducted at three public health facilities in the Mangaung District (Free State Province, South Africa) that served high density, marginalised communities with rife unemployment and poverty [29]. HIV prevalence and TB mortality were estimated at 11 and 9% respectively in the in the district [29].…”

“…This study was conducted at three public health facilities in the Mangaung District (Free State Province, South Africa) that served high density, marginalised communities with rife unemployment and poverty [29]. HIV prevalence and TB mortality were estimated at 11 and 9% respectively in the in the district [29]. The incidence of drug sensitive TB among those commenced on TB treatment in the Free State Province (2017) was 429.8 per 100,000, compared with the national average of 378.6 per 100,000 [30].…”

“…Tuberculosis was the leading cause of death, irrespective of age or sex, in the Free State Province [31] and HIV-positive TB mortality accounted for 73% of deaths among patients with TB in 2018 [1]. Further, 94% of patients newly diagnosed with TB were initiated on TB treatment and 90% of those patients who were TB/HIV co-infected were able to access antiretroviral therapy [29]. Patients documented as LTFU regarding their TB treatment and clinicians that managed patients with TB at these facilities were approached to participate in the study.…”

Understanding the Factors Influencing Junior Doctors’ Career Decision-Making to Address Rural Workforce Issues: Testing a Conceptual Framework

“…The provision of adequate healthcare to rural populations is a global issue [1]. In Australia, despite government initiatives implemented in recent years, including increased funding to support medical rural medical training [2], medical workforce shortages and maldistribution between urban and rural locations are ongoing issues [3].…”

“…The Rural Clinical Schools (RCS) program was implemented in 2000 and mandates that 25% of domestic medical students train rurally for at least one year of their clinical training [3]. Workforce outcomes for the RCSs program have been positive [4][5][6], and a recent study using combined data from multiple RCSs has showed that, independently of student background, RCS students had an increased chance of working rurally five years post-graduation [3]. Despite the program's success, evidence shows that at best, 50% of rural background RCS alumni end up in rural and regional areas [7].…”