title: Does Pukawakawa (the regional-rural programme at the University of Auckland) influence workforce choice?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Relative shortages of rural doctors persist. In 2008 the University of Auckland medical programme introduced a Year 5 regional and rural immersion programme, Pukawakawa, based in Northland, New Zealand (NZ). This study evaluates the early workforce outcomes of graduates of this programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 2013 we surveyed Auckland medical graduates who were in the 2008-2011 Pukawakawa cohorts. Questions were asked regarding recent and current place of work, future intentions for place of work, and career preference with reasons why. Qualitative analysis was undertaken to analyse free text responses about experiences of Pukawakawa on this choice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 72 Pukawakawa participants, 45 completed the survey, for a response rate of 63%. In 2013, 62% were working in rural or regional areas, with 31% in the Northland DHB. The great majority intend to work rurally or regionally, with 35.6% intending to return to Northland DHB. Of the respondents, 68% listed general practice in their top three future career intentions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the early postgraduate years, medical graduates who participated in Pukawakawa are very likely to be working in rural and regional areas. These graduates also show an intention to work in general practice and rural medicine.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Medical Programme Directorate, University of Auckland, Park Rd, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. w.bagg@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Warwick
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bagg
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yielder
authors.forename: Vernon
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mogol
authors.forename: Phillippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012577:Schools, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce