Is exposure to a student-run clinic associated with future primary care practice?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care Workforce Development
• Healthcare Access

Background:

• Student-run clinics (SRCs) are increasing in number.
• The impact of SRC participation on student career outcomes remains largely unexamined.
• Understanding factors influencing primary care specialty choice is crucial for workforce planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the presence of a student-run clinic at a medical school and the likelihood of its graduates practicing in a primary care specialty.
• To determine if medical school-based student-run clinics influence future primary care practice among graduates.

Main Methods:

• A 2005 survey of student-run clinics at medical schools was conducted, supplemented by additional data collection.
• Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between SRC presence and primary care practice.
• Data were controlled for medical school characteristics, including location (urban/rural), funding (public/private), and departmental structure.

Main Results:

• In 2005, 72 medical schools reported having at least one student-run clinic.
• After adjusting for confounding factors, the correlation between the presence of a student-run clinic and current primary care practice was -0.0122.
• No statistically significant association was found.

Conclusions:

• The existence of a student-run clinic at a medical school in 2005 did not correlate with a higher proportion of its graduates entering primary care practice.
• Limitations of this institution-based study suggest future research should focus on individual student participation in SRCs.
• Longitudinal educational experiences with underserved populations may be a more significant factor in encouraging primary care career choices.