Vocational career paths of graduate entry medical students at Flinders University: a comparison of rural, remote and tertiary tracks

TLDR

The study aims to compare the career trajectories of graduates from rural and remote programs (PRCC and NTCS) with those from the urban Flinders Medical Centre. A retrospective postal survey of 150 graduates from 1998‑2000 was conducted, using univariate and multivariate regression to assess associations with career preference. Graduates of PRCC and NTCS were significantly more likely to pursue rural careers (OR 19.1 and 4.3) than FMC graduates, with no difference in specialty choice, demonstrating that rural clinical attachments achieve their workforce objectives.

Abstract

Objective: To provide data on the career trajectories of medical students from rural and remote workforce programs at Flinders University (the Parallel Rural Community Curriculum [PRCC] and the Northern Territory Clinical School [NTCS]), comparing them with students at the urban Flinders Medical Centre (FMC). Design: Retrospective postal survey of all 150 graduates who undertook their Year 3 study in the period 1998–2000. Outcome measure: Associations with career preference, assessed using univariate analyses and multivariate regression. Results: PRCC and NTCS graduates were more likely to choose rural career paths than graduates from FMC. The odds ratios were 19.1 (95% CI, 3.4–106.3; P < 0.001) and 4.3 (95% CI, 1.2–14.8; P = 0.026), respectively, after adjusting for age and rural background. There was no difference in the specialty choices of graduates of the three programs. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that clinical attachments designed to increase the rural and remote medical workforce do fulfil this objective.