Evren Sevan, Chander Pranay, Kim Julia, Bi Andrew, Fiddler Dennis, Wayent Emily, Teitelbaum Howard S
J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2015 May;115(5):318-23. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2015.062.
The growth of osteopathic medicine in the United States has led to a vibrant expansion of the profession internationally. Canadian students represent the majority of international applicants and matriculants to US colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs); however, to our knowledge, no studies have explored this population.
To gain a better understanding of Canadian students attending US colleges of osteopathic medicine by examining their residency training preference, visa preference, intent to practice in the United States or Canada, receptiveness to incorporating osteopathic manipulative medicine into practice, specialty preference, estimated debt incurred, and effect of debt on specialty choice.
A 10-question electronic survey was sent to Canadian osteopathic medical students in the 17 COMs and branch campuses that accept international applicants. The initial survey pool consisted of frst-, second-, third-, and fourth-year medical students (classes of 2014-2017) compiled from a database managed by the Canadian Osteopathic Medical Student Association.
Of the 102 students contacted, 66 (65%) completed the survey. Respondents had a strong desire to practice in Canada (44 [67%]) but were considering an Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or dually accredited residency program in the United States (46 [70%] and 15 [23%], respectively) that would sponsor an H1B visa. Respondents were receptive to incorporating osteopathic manipulative medicine into practice (44 [67%]). Most respondents chose non-primary care specialties (40 [61%]) and incurred a debt of more than $200,000 (44 of 65 [68%]); however, debt had a limited infuence on respondents' choice of specialty (χ23=1.911; P=.591).
Most respondents planned to complete ACGME training, to return to Canada to practice medicine, and to practice in a non-primary care specialty. As a growing population that will play a large role in the expansion and reception of the profession internationally, Canadian osteopathic medical students and US-trained Canadian DOs merit further examination.
美国整骨医学的发展促使该专业在国际上蓬勃扩张。加拿大学生是美国整骨医学院（COM）国际申请者和录取者的主体；然而，据我们所知，尚无研究对这一群体进行过探讨。
通过调查加拿大学生对住院医师培训的偏好、签证偏好、在美国或加拿大执业的意向、将整骨手法医学纳入临床实践的接受程度、专业偏好、估计的债务负担以及债务对专业选择的影响，更好地了解就读于美国整骨医学院的加拿大学生。
向17所接受国际申请者的美国整骨医学院及其分校的加拿大整骨医学专业学生发送了一份包含10个问题的电子调查问卷。初始调查对象包括从加拿大整骨医学专业学生协会管理的数据库中选取的一、二、三、四年级医学生（2014 - 2017届）。
在联系的102名学生中，66名（65%）完成了调查。受访者强烈希望在加拿大执业（44名[67%]），但也在考虑美国研究生医学教育认证委员会（ACGME）认证或双重认证的住院医师项目（分别为46名[70%]和15名[但23%]），这些项目将为H1B签证提供担保。受访者愿意将整骨手法医学纳入临床实践（44名[67%]）。大多数受访者选择非初级保健专业（40名[61%]），且债务超过20万美元（65名中的44名[68%]）；然而，债务对受访者的专业选择影响有限（χ23 = 1.911；P = .591）。
大多数受访者计划完成ACGME培训，返回加拿大行医，并从事非初级保健专业。作为一个不断壮大的群体，加拿大整骨医学专业学生和在美国接受培训的加拿大整骨医学博士将在整骨医学专业的国际扩张和接纳中发挥重要作用，值得进一步研究。
