The effect of preceptorship and rural training programs on physicians' practice location decisions

This study analyzes the relationship between medical student participation in rural training programs, including preceptorships, and the decision to locate medical practice in rural areas. Data consist primarily of responses to questionnaires mailed in 1972 to all graduates of United States medical schools in 1965. Study findings indicate that the overall impact of such programs on practice location decisions is relatively slight, but is most pronounced with respect to urban-reared physicians in nonprimary care specialties. It was also found that a large proportion of urban-located physicians had seriously considered rural practice and that the reluctance of many physicians to locate in rural areas is linked to fear of professional isolation. The findings suggest that an increased orientation toward urban-reared students and dissemination of information on nonsolo practice opportunities in rural areas are means of increasing the effectiveness of preceptorships and other rural training programs in attracting young physicians to underserviced areas.