The impact of rural outreach programs on medical students’ future rural intentions and working locations: a systematic review

Australian Dental Journal

Byun

Foster

et al. 2019

Self Cite

Background: There is little longitudinal evaluation of rural dental education outreach programs. This longitudinal research investigates the influence of a Rural Clinical Placement Program (RCPP) on workforce outcomes in terms of practice locations for five graduate years from the University of Sydney. Methods: Work locations for the graduates from 2009-2013 were identified in 2015 and 2017 by rurality, using faculty contact lists, phone calls and online methods. A total of 397 graduate locations were identified out of 404 (98.2%) (267 RCPP participants and 137 non-RCPP participants). Semi-structured questionnaires were used to report on demographic and characteristic data. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were utilised to explore associations. Results: Rural Clinical Placement Program participation in 2015 was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of working rurally (PR = 2.16), and almost two times the likelihood of rural retention in the period from 2015 to 2017 (PR = 1.93). In the multivariate analyses, both rural experience prior to the RCPP and pre-placement rural intentions were significant independent predictors of an increased likelihood for rural employment and rural retention. Conclusions: Participation in the RCPP was associated with increased rural employment and retention. Prior rural experience and pre-placement rural intentions were identified as significant independent predictors of rural employment.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…reported that rural background can be a strong indicator of future rural practice. In medical education, there is substantial evidence of the influence of rural background on graduates’ future workforce outcomes . Furthermore, two medical education reviews have described rural background as the strongest predictor of rural employment .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A longitudinal workforce analysis of a Rural Clinical Placement Program for final year dental students

Australian Dental Journal

Byun

Foster

et al. 2019

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“…This is an issue faced by many medical and dental education programs as it is ethically challenging to make educational interventions mandatory and assign students to certain settings. 17,58,59 It is therefore possible that the RCPP participants had higher pre-placement rural intentions; however, prior research helps to mitigate this potential bias. First, the 2009 student cohort evalua- 18,19 ; thus, pre-placement almost half of the participants did not want to work rurally after graduation.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A longitudinal evaluation of the Rural Clinical Placement Program at the University of Sydney Dental School

Wright

Foster

2018

Eur J Dental Education

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Introduction Australia has a lack of dental practitioners in rural and remote regions. This study evaluates the impact of a Rural Clinical Placement Program (RCPP) offered to final year students at the University of Sydney (USYD) Dental School on the graduates working locations. Materials and Methods University of Sydney students who graduated between 2009 and 2013 (n = 404) were invited to complete a telephone interview. One hundred and thirty‐five graduates were interviewed, 90 RCPP participants and 45 non‐participants. Results The majority of graduates interviewed were from a metropolitan background (87%), 47% were female, 77% worked full time, and 70% were employed in private practice. A higher proportion (33%) of the RCPP participants were working in rural Australia compared with 18% of the non‐participants. The graduates reported that the RCPP was a high‐quality program with excellent rural clinical supervisors, provided broad clinical dentistry; they met appreciative patients and enjoyed the rural lifestyle. Conclusions The RCPP was a valuable and positive experience with many considering it as a highlight of their dental education. A large proportion reported the program positively influenced their employment location choices, and a higher proportion of the RCPP participants were identified as working rurally, compared to the non‐participants.

“…One strategy to encourage new graduates to work rurally is through the provision of rural outreach placements during educational training. In medical education, there is considerable evidence for the effectiveness of outreach programs during training, with both Rural Clinical Placement Programs (RCPPs) and Rural Clinical Schools (RCSs) reporting positive associations of graduates with rural employment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The workforce outcomes of dental graduates from a metropolitan school ‘Rural Clinical Placement Program’ versus a ‘Rural Clinical School’

International Dental Journal

Blinkhorn

Byun

et al. 2020

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Introduction: This study compares the workplace decisions from University of Sydney (USYD) dental graduates who participated in a 1-month voluntary Rural Clinical Placement Program (RCPP), USYD graduates who did not participate in the RCPP (non-RCPP), and with graduates who qualified from a dental Rural Clinical School (RCS) at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Methodology: From mid-2015, USYD students who graduated between 2009 and 2013, and CSU graduates from 2013 to 2014, were requested to complete a telephone interview related to employment choices. For USYD, 135 interviews were completed (63% of contactable graduates) and for CSU, 39 interviews (68%). Mixed methods were applied to analyse the data. Results: For USYD, 33% of RCPP participants were working rurally compared with 18% of the non-RCPP, whilst 54% of CSU graduates were working rurally. For USYD, the self-reported influence of the RCPP on the graduates' employment decisions was a significant predictor of rural employment. For CSU, country of birth and employment status were weakly associated with rural employment. Across the three cohorts, key employment factors were as follows: job availability, family, personal relationships, good mentorship, clinical training, partner factor and lifestyle. In addition, both the RCPP and CSU graduates showed greater interest and awareness of rural employment than the non-RCPP. Conclusion: The CSU RCS and USYD RCPP are leading to positive rural employment outcomes, and it is clear that the provision of a rural experience is influencing graduates to work rurally. Further investigation of the CSU program is required to fully assess its impact and to provide longitudinal workforce information.