Connectivity is the key to longer rural placement: Retaining students on rural longitudinal integrated clerkships

Abstract

Purpose

Recruitment and retention of medical practitioners to rural practice is an ongoing global issue. Rural longitudinal integrated clerkships (LIC) are an innovative solution to this problem, which are known to increase rural workforce. Crucially this association increases with time on rural placement. This study examines factors that promote retention in a Rural LIC.

Methods

A two-phased, sequential design qualitative study in a cohort of students enrolled in a rural LIC at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. Phase I consisted of an open-ended questionnaire and phase II follow-up focus groups from the same cohort. Data was transcribed and analysed using an iterative, six-step thematic analysis process to identify salient themes.

Results

Twenty-four students were invited to participate, of which eight respond in phase I and thirteen participated in phase II. Participants described retention being driven by connectivity within three broad themes: current practice, future practice (immediate internship and career intention), and social networks. Participant proposals to increase connectivity were also suggested including peer-led solutions and short rotations in metropolitan hospitals.

Conclusion

Connectivity is key to retention on rural longitudinal integrated clerkships. Programs which enhance connectivity with current practice, future practice, and social networks will increase retention on rural medical programs.

Keywords:

• Rural health
• longitudinal integrated clerkship
• medical education
• health workforce

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the Australian Government Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training programme grant supported the salaries of BC, JP, SW, HW and KB during the course of the study.

Notes on contributors

Brendan Carrigan

Brendan Carrigan, AFRACMA, GCAHP, FACRRM, DRANZCOG Adv., MBBS, BSc(Hons), is the Year 3 Clinical Lead for the Griffith University Longlook program at Rural Medical Education Australia, Toowoomba, Australia and a Senior Lecturer at the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Australia.

Lucy Bass

Lucy Bass, MD, BHSc, was a Year 4 medical student in the Griffith University Longlook Program at the time of the study. Lucy is now a Resident Medical Officer with Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Caboolture Hospital, Caboolture, Australia.

Janani Pinidiyapathirage

Janani Pinidiyapathirage, MBBS, MSc, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor at Rural Medical Education Australia, Toowoomba, Australia and the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Australia.

Sherrilyn Walters

Sherrilyn Walters, MScR, BAppSc, is Research Assistant at Rural Medical Education Australia, Toowoomba, Australia and the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Australia.

Hannah Woodall

Hannah Woodall, BMedSci, MBBS, FRACGP, is a Research Fellow at Rural Medical Education Australia, Toowoomba, Australia and Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Australia.

Kay Brumpton

Kay Brumpton, MBBS, FRACGP, FARGP, FACRRM, DRANZCOG, MClinEd, GAICD, is Professor and Subdean Rural at the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Australia, and Director, Education and Training at Rural Medical Education Australia, Toowoomba, Australia.