Richards Jesse R, Scheckel Caleb J, Kunz Matt, Newman Jessica R, Poole Kenneth G, Mi Lanyu
J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2018 Jun 1;118(6):384-388. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2018.082.
Enrollment in colleges of osteopathic medicine continues to increase, as does the need for physicians practicing in underserved areas. The cost of osteopathic medical education is substantial, with students often incurring debt of $200,000 or more. It is unclear whether practice patterns of new graduates will be affected by debt-to-income ratios.
To determine whether the intended practice location of graduates of colleges of osteopathic medicine is associated with medical education debt.
Using data from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine's annual survey to graduates of colleges of osteopathic medicine, the authors focused on graduates' intention to practice in an underserved area, the amount of debt incurred, and plans to enter a loan-repayment program. Survey data from 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016 were analyzed.
From 2007 to 2016, the percentage of graduates who intended to practice in underserved areas increased (27.5% to 35.3%, respectively). Graduates with the most debt intended to practice in underserved areas at a higher percentage than those with the least amount of debt, and they also planned on using loan-repayment programs at a higher rate.
There is a strong association among the intention to practice in an underserved area, high debt load, and intention to use a loan-repayment program. Therefore, the osteopathic medical community should support increased access to loan-repayment programs to help its graduates surmount economic and social barriers to providing care in underserved areas.
骨科医学院的招生人数持续增加，在医疗服务不足地区执业的医生需求也在增加。骨科医学教育成本高昂，学生通常会背负20万美元或更多的债务。尚不清楚新毕业生的执业模式是否会受到债务收入比的影响。
确定骨科医学院毕业生的预期执业地点是否与医学教育债务有关。
作者利用美国骨科医学院协会对骨科医学院毕业生的年度调查数据，重点关注毕业生在医疗服务不足地区执业的意向、所产生的债务金额以及参与贷款偿还计划的打算。分析了2007年、2010年、2013年和2016年的调查数据。
从2007年到2016年，打算在医疗服务不足地区执业的毕业生比例有所增加（分别从27.5%增至35.3%）。债务最多的毕业生打算在医疗服务不足地区执业的比例高于债务最少的毕业生，他们使用贷款偿还计划的比例也更高。
在医疗服务不足地区执业的意向、高债务负担和使用贷款偿还计划的意向之间存在密切关联。因此，骨科医学界应支持增加贷款偿还计划的可及性，以帮助其毕业生克服在医疗服务不足地区提供医疗服务的经济和社会障碍。
