Recruiting medical students to rural practice: perspectives of medical students and rural recruiters.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the strategies used by rural recruitment programs and their perceived influence on medical students.


METHODS
Two original questionnaires delivered electronically, one to medical students and the other to recruiters in rural Ontario communities.


METHODS
Ontario, Canada.


METHODS
All 525 medical students enrolled in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario in London and physician recruiters in 71 rural communities in Ontario were invited to participate in the study.


METHODS
The factors that influence medical students to consider rural practice, strategies used by recruiters, and student perceptions of the ethical appropriateness of both.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was completed by 42.1% of medical students. Lifestyle considerations were an important influence for 93.1% of students. Themes from the qualitative analysis included the ethical appropriateness of financial considerations, economic forces, perceived disadvantages of rural practice, competition between communities, and lack of altruism. Responses were received from recruiters in 43.7% of communities; of those, 92.9% offered financial incentives to attract prospective physicians.


CONCLUSIONS
Financial and lifestyle considerations are important influences on medical students' choice to practise in rural communities. Most medical students felt incentive programs offered by rural communities were ethically appropriate.
Jutzi
Leah
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, ON.
Vogt
Kelly
K
Drever
Erin
E
Nisker
Jeff
J
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009864:Ontario; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult