Impact of rural and remote clinical placements on future intention to practice

Background: Living in rural and remote areas decreases health equity due to the health workforce shortages experienced in these locations; this is particularly experienced by our Indigenous population. To address this, there has been an increased number of students participating in rural and remote clinical placements. Aim: To identify factors that both encourage and limit students from participating in rural and remote healthcare placements whilst simultaneously assessing future intent to work in these areas. Methods: Australian students undertaking a degree in health completed an online survey distributed via the National Rural Health Student Network in 2021. Results: A total of 508 students from across 27 universities and 15 health disciplines completed the survey. More than half of the respondents had completed a placement in a rural or remote area. Most students were satisfied, or very satisfied, with the placement, which appears to be linked to an intention to return to rural and remote locations to work. Exposing students who had not considered practicing rurally to a rural or remote placement increased the odds of rural practice intention. Twenty-four students identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander completed a rural or remote placement 12.5% of these students had an increased intention to undertake rural or remote practice. Discussion: This study added to the known body of evidence, that when health students enjoy their clinical placement experience, they have an increased intention to pursue rural or remote employment. Emerging evidence contrastingly corroborates that students who had the desire to return to rural and remote areas prior to their clinical placement didn’t have as strong motivation when compared to others without this intention.