Institute of Rural Health, Wales, UK.
Med Teach. 2011;33(4):e211-7. doi: 10.3109/0142159X.2011.557409.
There are two drivers for encouraging undergraduate students to undertake rural general practice placements - first, the need to increase the number of clinical placements available and second, the importance of exposing medical students to rural health care as a career choice. This is the first study to explore the practicalities and challenges of rural general practice placements in the United Kingdom as experienced by students and professionals involved.
This study aimed to explore the barriers and opportunities to developing undergraduate medical education in rural Wales.
This study reports on qualitative data from two focus groups with Year 5 students (one group had been on urban placement, the other rural); and telephone interviews with professionals involved in delivering the placements.
Five themes emerged from the analysis: the positive learning experience provided by General Practice irrespective of rural or urban location; strong pull factors to the university town; anxiety and expectation associated with a rural placement; accommodation whilst on placement; the extra cost associated with transport in rural areas.
It is important to address students' concerns associated with the practicalities of going on a rural placement. Rural practice placements need to be raised earlier in the undergraduate curriculum.
鼓励本科生从事农村全科医学实习有两个驱动因素——第一，需要增加临床实习机会的数量；第二，让医学生接触农村医疗保健作为职业选择非常重要。这是第一项研究，旨在探索英国农村全科医学实习所涉及的学生和专业人员的实际情况和挑战。
本研究旨在探讨在威尔士农村发展本科医学教育的障碍和机遇。
本研究报告了来自两个焦点小组的定性数据，参与者为五年级学生（一组在城市实习，另一组在农村实习）；以及与参与实习的专业人员进行的电话访谈。
分析中出现了五个主题：无论农村还是城市，全科医学提供的积极学习体验；对大学城的强烈吸引力；与农村实习相关的焦虑和期望；实习期间的住宿；农村地区交通相关的额外费用。
解决学生对农村实习实际情况的担忧很重要。农村实践实习需要在本科课程中更早地提出。
