The researchers surveyed graduates of family medicine residencies with a mission to produce rural physicians to understand physician characteristics, experiences, and attitudes that affected their practice location choices. Influential factors included partner or spouse characteristics, residency experiences, and practice community amenities. Some physicians are clearly self-selected into rural practice, but much needs to be done, particularly during and after residency training, to sustain their interests and to encourage other physicians to embark on rural careers.
Contact Information:
Davis Patterson, PhD
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 206.543.1892
davisp@uw.edu