Canadian return-for-service bursary programs for medical trainees

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Medical Education
• Physician Workforce Distribution

Background:

• Return-for-service (RFS) bursaries are financial incentives for physicians to practice in underserved areas.
• Despite long-standing use in Canada, a comprehensive understanding of current RFS programs and participant priorities is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the availability of RFS bursary programs across Canadian provinces and territories.
• To determine the most significant factors influencing medical trainees' decisions to accept RFS bursaries.

Main Methods:

• Document analysis of existing RFS programs.
• Survey of medical trainees at Memorial University regarding bursary decision-making factors.

Main Results:

• RFS programs are accessible in almost all Canadian provinces and territories.
• Key factors influencing trainee acceptance include work location, bursary monetary value, and service repayment duration.
• RFS bursaries appear to support physicians committed to remaining within a province, rather than attracting new ones.

Conclusions:

• RFS bursaries are widely available in Canada.
• Program features like location, financial incentives, and service commitment terms are critical for physician recruitment and retention.
• These bursaries may reinforce the commitment of physicians already inclined to serve in underserved communities.