Educational debt of physicians-in-training: determining the level of interest in a loan repayment program for service in a medically underserved area.
OBJECTIVE
The amount of financial debt incurred by Texas medical students and residents during training was examined as well as the impact of this debt on these trainees' career choices.


METHODS
An invitation to participate was sent in a Web-based survey to medical students and residents at 6 university programs in Texas during the 2005-2006 academic year.


RESULTS
Overall, 818 students (20%) and 529 residents (14%) responded to the survey. Of these, 96% of students and 85% of residents had taken out educational loans, and approximately 62% of students and residents expected their debt to exceed $100,000. More than half of students and residents expected educational debt to influence their choice of practice type and practice area and to affect important personal decisions. Approximately 52% of students and 38% of residents indicated an interest in participating in a loan repayment program that involved service in a medically underserved area. In general, women and members of minority groups were more likely to express such an interest.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical students and residents incur considerable financial debt, which seems to affect their career choices. Approximately half of the students and one third of the residents surveyed indicated that they would consider participating in a loan repayment program that required practice in an underserved area.
Price
Michelle A
MA
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA. pricema@urhscsa.edu
Cohn
Stephen M
SM
Love
Joseph
J
Dent
Daniel L
DL
Esterl
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D055815:Young Adult