title: Public health and community medicine instruction and physician practice location.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experts have historically recommended better integration of public health content into medical education. Whether this adoption is associated with physician practice location has not been studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between medical student perception of their public health and community medicine instruction and practice location in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive analysis and a regression model assessed the significance and strength of the association between medical student perception of their public health and community medicine instruction and practice location using data from the Medical School Graduation Questionnaire 1997-2004, 2013 American Medical Association Physician Masterfile, and 2013 Health Professional Shortage Areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher proportion of medical students with an intent to practice in underserved areas reported inadequate instruction in public health and community medicine than those without such intentions. Students reporting adequate public health and community medicine instruction are slightly more likely to practice in a Health Professional Shortage Area, controlling for their intent to practice in underserved areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest an association between perceptions of public health and community medicine instruction and practice location. Improved public health and community medicine instruction may support medical students' preparation and ability to integrate public health skills into practices in underserved settings. More research is needed to ascertain factors enabling better incorporation of public health and community medicine in medical education.
authors.affiliation: Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Imam M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Xierali
authors.affiliation: Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maeshiro
authors.affiliation: Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Sherese
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Taniecea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arceneaux
authors.affiliation: Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, District of Columbia. Electronic address: mfair@aamc.org.
authors.forename: Malika A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fair
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D057191:Capacity Building; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000639:trends*; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional; D005260:Female; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States