Impact of a Workshop on Rural Healthcare Delivery on Medical Student Attitudes

Rural residents in the United States (U.S.) experience significant health disparities due to social determinants such as poverty, geographic isolation, and limited healthcare access. Physician shortages in rural areas further exacerbate these challenges.

This study evaluates the impact of an educational workshop on medical students' attitudes toward rural healthcare barriers, aiming to determine whether targeted education can enhance their understanding and interest in rural practice.

Third-year medical students at the West Virginia University School of Medicine participated in a workshop that included a 20-minute pre-recorded lecture and a 90-minute interactive virtual session. Pre- and post-surveys assessed students' attitudes toward rural healthcare challenges. Responses were analyzed using paired t-tests with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.0017), stratified by rural background.

Of 97 students who completed the baseline survey, 67 completed both pre- and post-surveys (69% completion rate). After applying Bonferroni correction, four significant changes emerged: students reported greater confidence in addressing rural patient concerns (4.07 v 2.99, p < 0.0001), increased support for exempting rural patients from strict appointment timing rules (4.15 v 3.42, p < 0.0001), greater flexibility regarding follow-up scheduling (2.30 v 2.84, p < 0.0001), and enhanced recognition of financial strain from travel to Morgantown (4.70 v 4.43, p < 0.0001). Students from non-rural backgrounds demonstrated the most pronounced improvements in understanding rural-specific healthcare barriers.

The workshop effectively improved medical students' understanding of rural healthcare barriers, with particularly strong effects among students lacking prior rural exposure. These findings suggest that integrating structured educational experiences into medical curricula may enhance students' preparedness for rural practice and help address physician shortages in underserved areas. Future research should explore the long-term impact of such interventions on career choices.