title: Compulsory medical rural placements: senior student opinions of early-year experiential learning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine senior medical student (year 3-5) opinions of their early-year (year 1-2) rural placement.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the impact of MBBS early-year rural placements through a follow up of this cohort in their later years using a cross-sectional questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaire was administered to year 3-5 medical students at their clinical school.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 97 participants (49% response rate) in the study. Twenty-nine per cent were male and 71% were female; 44% were from a rural background and 56% were from a metropolitan background; 48% were year 3 students, 32% were year 4 students and 20% were year 5 students; and 59% of the students were, at the time, situated at a rural clinical school and 41% were at a metropolitan clinical school.
  
  
  METHODS
  Closed-ended questions were quantified and statistically analysed. Open-ended responses were thematically analysed to determine what their experience of early-year rural placements were like.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-nine per cent of students considered the year 1 placement length as 'about right'. Overall, most students found year 1 rural placements positive and grasped the placement aims and objectives. Most students were also pleased with year 2 rural placements, mainly due to the clinical aspects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical students appear to prefer shorter early-year rural placements and understand the benefits and importance of such placements. They also have a desire for greater clinical exposure during these early-year placements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rural and Indigenous Health, School of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. angelo.d’amore@monash.edu
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Amore
authors.forename: Eleanor K L
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Janice E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Chesters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011231:Preceptorship; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult