Future practice location and satisfaction with rural medical education: survey of medical students.

OBJECTIVE To explore the desired future practice location of a cohort of medical students with strong rural representation and to inquire whether they were satisfied with their medical experiences in rural primary care settings.

DESIGN Survey questionnaire.

SETTING The College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

PARTICIPANTS One hundred twenty-two medical students.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Demographic information, plans for future practice, and opinions on rural medical experiences in primary care settings.

RESULTS Although students from both rural and non-rural backgrounds were highly satisfied with mandatory and voluntary rural experiences and considered them valuable for their medical education, fewer than 10% of the 122 students desired to work in centres with less than 10 000 population. Only 2 students hoped to practise in such locations. Most students interested in family practice were interested in urban practice, and most students from rural areas were not interested in rural practice.

CONCLUSION Both rural and non-rural students were highly satisfied with their medical education in rural primary care settings, but this did not mean either group wanted to practise in rural settings. Demographic profiling of students (to ascertain whether they have rural origins) and assessing satisfaction with rural medical education give only partial information on who might choose to practise family medicine in rural areas.