Removing the roadblocks to medical and health student training in rural hospitals in Victoria.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the extent of undergraduate health student placements in regional hospitals in northern Victoria in 1999, prior to substantial changes in rural undergraduate medical education in Australia.


METHODS
Cross sectional postal survey with telephone follow-up in north-east Victoria. Subjects were all 17 regional and rural hospitals involved in health student teaching in North-east Victoria. Main outcome measures were the numbers, duration and discipline of health students placements and reported barriers to such placements.


RESULTS
Large regional hospitals accounted for two-thirds of all undergraduate health student placements. Smaller sites placed few allied health students. Barriers to a larger, more sustainable system of rural placements and rotations included accommodation shortages and funding constraints, particularly in smaller rural hospitals.


CONCLUSIONS
Adequate resourcing of placements of a meaningful duration, stronger institutional support, and improved resourcing of regional accommodation is required to facilitate a larger, more systematic and sustainable system of medical and health student placements in rural areas.
Jones
Graeme I
GI
Rural Clinical School, School of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, Shepparton, Victoria.
Alford
Katrina A
KA
Russell
Ursula J
UJ
Simmons
David
D
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006743:Hospital Bed Capacity, under 100 / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012041:Regional Medical Programs; D012944:Social Support; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014146:Training Support / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014739:Victoria; D000078329:Workforce