Continuous Rural High School Educational Outreach and Lasting Impact on Health Care Career Attitudes: Qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Rural Health
• Medical Education
• Health Workforce Development

Background:

• Rural communities face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals.
• Individuals from rural backgrounds are more likely to practice in these areas, yet pipeline programs often overlook high school students.
• Early exposure to healthcare careers is crucial as career paths are often decided before college.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an ongoing educational outreach program on rural high school students' awareness of diverse healthcare professions.
• To assess changes in students' interest, perceived barriers, and likelihood of pursuing healthcare careers and returning to rural practice.

Main Methods:

• A 4-month educational outreach program was conducted at a rural Colorado high school, featuring monthly sessions on different medical specialties.
• Second-year medical students led sessions covering common conditions, treatments, and healthcare roles.
• Pre-, post-session, and 4-month follow-up surveys assessed career interest, barriers, and likelihood of rural practice.

Main Results:

• Overall interest in and likelihood of pursuing a healthcare career significantly increased (P=.03 and P=.04, respectively).
• No significant changes were observed in the likelihood of returning to rural hometowns to practice or perceived access to resources.
• Financial constraints (65%) were the primary barrier, followed by lack of exposure (29%) and support (26%).

Conclusions:

• Sustained outreach is vital for increasing awareness of healthcare career pathways in rural communities.
• While short-term interventions boost career interest, long-term mentorship and support are crucial for commitment to rural practice.
• Future initiatives should include financial counseling, mentorship, and collaboration with existing rural pipeline programs.