title: Demography of medical students at the University of Otago, 2004-2008: a changing spectrum?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the demography of University of Otago Year 2 medical students for the period 2004-2008 to determine whether our graduates reflect the changing demography of New Zealand society.
  
  
  METHODS
  A demographic questionnaire was completed by students entering Year 2. This paper reviews data collected from 2004-2008 and compares the results with data collected between 1987-2000 and also with New Zealand census data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The demographic spectrum of the University of Otago Medical School Year 2 students does not show a general shift towards the demography of the New Zealand community. However, there have been specific positive changes for entrants with a rural background and the proportion of students who are New Zealand citizens. Of concern Maori and Pacific Island students and students from families with lower socioeconomic and educational status are under-represented in the reported period although there has been more recent improvement. In addition the proportion of students with a parent as a doctor has risen compared to the 1987-2000 cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further initiatives are needed to improve the numbers of Maori and Pacific Island students and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand. david.perez@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012577:Schools, Medical; D012923:Social Class; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult