A Thematic Analysis Exploring the Impact of a Rural Emergency Medicine Rotation on Resident Perceptions of Care and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Rural Health
• Emergency Medicine Training

Background:

• Limited exposure of emergency medicine (EM) residents to rural practice settings during training.
• Identified curricular gap in EM residency programs regarding rural healthcare.
• Need to understand resident perceptions and preparedness for rural EM careers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perceptions and experiences of EM residents during a rural elective.
• To assess the impact of a rural EM rotation on resident preparedness for rural practice.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semistructured interviews with PGY-2 and PGY-3 EM residents.
• Data collected between June 2019 and May 2020.
• Inductive thematic analysis informed by social cognitive theory.

Main Results:

• Residents gained understanding of unique rural patient presentations and care variations.
• Appreciation developed for rural emergency department (ED) logistics and patient transfer challenges.
• Perceived benefits included enhanced training and improved preparedness for rural EM.

Conclusions:

• Rural EM electives offer valuable insights into rural healthcare delivery.
• Exposure to rural settings significantly enhances resident understanding and preparedness for rural EM practice.