New findings from the 2002 Minnesota Resident Physician Exit Survey.

The 2002 Minnesota Resident Physician Exit Survey was administered to 698 residents and fellows scheduled to complete training programs in Minnesota during 2002. The Resident Physician survey is 1 of 6 exit surveys administered annually to exiting students, residents, and fellows in a variety of health care disciplines in Minnesota. Of the 698 survey recipients, 387 (55%) returned completed surveys. The results confirm the importance of geographic area of origin in the practice decisions of new physicians. Respondents who had graduated from Minnesota high schools, colleges, or medical schools were significantly more likely to remain in Minnesota to practice than were respondents who had attended secondary, postsecondary, or professional schools in other states or countries. The results also indicate that for most new physicians, educational debt load is not a major factor in practice decisions.