Comparison of rural and non-rural students undertaking a voluntary rural placement in the early years of a medical course.

Abstract

Objective The experiences of rural and non-rural students undertaking a voluntary rural placement in the early years of a medical course were compared. Method Eighty percent (28) of the rural and 70% (114) of the non-rural students completed a post-placement questionnaire. Result The two groups did not differ on their overall rating of the placement, whether they felt welcome, adequacy of the time with doctors or their rating of the accommodation provided. However, 46% (13) of the rural students reported the placement had changed their feelings towards rural practice to the maximum/almost maximum extent compared with only 24% (27) of the non-rural students.