title: Service and its association with matching into a primary care residency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a shortfall in the primary care workforce, and an effort is needed in learning more about what motivates students to work as generalists. There is enthusiasm about service as a potential motivator. The objective is to determine whether there is an association between high participation in service and selection of a primary care residency.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective cohort analysis. The service award was used to delineate two groups, recipients and non-recipients, with the recipients considered high service participators. This was associated with residency match data using test of proportions to examine relationships between service and selection of a primary care residency and other secondary factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of award recipients, 57.3% matched in primary care, compared to 52.8%, though this did not reach statistical significance. Service was linked with induction into Alpha Omega Alpha honor society (23.3% versus 14.6%) and induction into the Gold Humanism Honor Society (22.6%. versus 10.4%), with statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was an unsuccessful attempt to find a link between service and a primary care career choice, though there is a trend in the direction. The association with induction into the humanism honor society suggests that service is linked with development and/or retention of positively viewed qualities in medical students.
authors: University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Ansab
authors: A
authors: Khwaja
authors: University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Douglas C
authors: DC
authors: Schaad
authors: University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Richard W
authors: RW
authors: Arnold
keywords: community service; medical education; primary care