Why we should teach undergraduate medical students in rural communities
The Medical Journal of AustraliaPublished 1 June 2000
Paul Worley, David Prideaux, J Anne Magarey, Roger Strasser, Chris Silagy
Citations83
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.51
SNIP1.48
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TL;DR
In the eyes of many, the critical shortage of doctors in rural areas is the only reason for providing rural experiences for medical students, and the need to address this shortage is a major concern.
Abstract
In the eyes of many, the critical shortage of doctors in rural areas is the only reason for providing rural experiences for medical students. This article reviews the body of evidence supporting rural placements as a long-term medical workforce strategy and additional evidence regarding the apparent educational benefits of such placements. By enabling medical students to learn for significant periods of time in rural communities, it is now possible for universities to address the medical workforce imperatives of the communities they serve at the same time as providing intrinsic educational advantages to their students.
Keywords
MedicineHealth Professions
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