"We learnt it, then we lived it": influencing medical students' intentions toward rural practice and generalist careers via a socially-accountable curriculum

Woolley, Torres, Ross, Simone, Larkins, Sarah, Sen Gupta, Tarun, and Whaleboat, Donald (2021) "We learnt it, then we lived it": influencing medical students' intentions toward rural practice and generalist careers via a socially-accountable curriculum. Medical Teacher, 43 (1). pp. 93-100.

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Abstract

Objective: The James Cook University (JCU) medical school has a mission to produce graduates committed to practising with underserved populations. This study explores the views of final-year students regarding the influence of the JCU medical curriculum on their self-reported commitment to socially-accountable practice, intentions for rural practice, and desired postgraduate training pathway.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of final year JCU medical students (n = 113; response rate = 65%) to determine whether their future career directions (intentions for future practice rurality and postgraduate specialty training pathway) are driven more by altruism (commitment to socially accountable practice/community service) or by financial reward and/or prestige.

Results: Overall, 96% of responding students reported their JCU medical course experiences had cultivated a greater commitment towards 'socially-accountable' practice. A commitment to socially-accountable practice over financial reward and/or prestige was also significantly associated with preferring to practise Medicine in non-metropolitan areas (p = 0.036) and intending to choose a 'generalist' medical discipline (p = 0.003).

Conclusions: The findings suggest the JCU medical curriculum has positively influenced the commitment of its graduating students towards more socially accountable practice. This influence is a likely result of pre-clinical teachings around health inequalities and socially-accountable medical practice in combination with real-world, immersive experiences on rural and international placements.

Item ID: 64581
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1466-187X
Keywords: Undergraduate, medicine, community-oriented, ethics/attitudes, medical education research
Copyright Information: (C) 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Date Deposited: 14 Oct 2020 01:27
FoR Codes: 39 EDUCATION > 3901 Curriculum and pedagogy > 390110 Medicine, nursing and health curriculum and pedagogy @ 75%
42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420321 Rural and remote health services @ 25%
SEO Codes: 93 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 9303 Curriculum > 930301 Assessment and Evaluation of Curriculum @ 50%
93 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 9305 Education and Training Systems > 930599 Education and Training Systems not elsewhere classified @ 50%
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