Do Residencies That Aim to Produce Rural Family Physicians Offer Relevant Training?

Rural family physicians are in short supply. Rural training can promote rural practice, but the number of family medicine residencies with a rural focus, geographic distribution of training, and training content are poorly understood. This study identified rural-centric family medicine residencies, their training locations, and rurally relevant skills training provided.

The authors identified family medicine residencies offering rural tracks or in rural locations using FREIDA Online®, the American Osteopathic Association "Opportunities," and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Residency Finder online databases. Program personnel completed a survey in 2013 about training locations and content.

Of 583, 171 (29%) family medicine residencies met inclusion criteria. A total of 131 returned surveys (77%). Fifty-eight programs (44% of respondents) required at least 8 weeks of rural training; results describe these rural-centric programs. Programs reported a mean of 43.6 weeks (SD 49.7) of required rural block rotations. Mean hours per week in required rural continuity clinic sessions were 14.3 (SD 12.2). Thirty-nine percent of block rotation sites, 31% of clinic sites, and 21% of full-time training sites reported as rural were urban according to Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes. Over 90% of programs provided training in orthopedic care and emergency skills. Fewer than 60% provided endoscopy and operative obstetrics training.

Though numerous family medicine residencies seek to produce rural physicians, most programs required fewer than 8 weeks of rural training. Programs varied substantially in rurally located training and rurally relevant content. Students seeking rural training should examine program curricula carefully.