The demographic characteristics of New Zealand medical students: the New Zealand Wellbeing, Intentions, Debt and Experiences (WIDE) Survey of Medical Students 2001 study.

Abstract

Medical students are more likely to be socioeconomically advantaged and from an urban community, and less likely to be of Maori or Pacific Island descent, than the general population. In the context of a shortage of practitioners in rural, lower socioeconomic and Maori or Pacific Island areas, these differences are worrying. The number of permanent residents and female students may have implications for the New Zealand medical workforce.