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Rural Health Workforce Development Through the AHEC Scholars Model
Danielle Bruno1, Taylor O'Shaughnessy1, Jennifer D Taylor1
1Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Summary
The Indiana AHEC Scholars program significantly increased health professions students' intent to practice in rural areas. This program correlates with actual rural practice, showing its effectiveness in addressing rural healthcare needs.
Area of Science:
- Health Professions Education
- Rural Health
- Medical Education
Background:
- Access to healthcare is vital for good health.
- Rural and medically underserved areas face healthcare shortages.
- The Indiana AHEC Scholars program aims to address these shortages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between AHEC Scholars program engagement and students' intent to practice in rural areas.
- To evaluate the correlation between program engagement and actual rural practice post-graduation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of five AHEC Scholars cohorts (2018-2023).
- Quantitative analysis using pre-, mid-, and post-program evaluations.
- Paired t-tests and chi-square tests to analyze changes in intent and correlation with practice location.
Main Results:
- Significant increase in students' intent to practice rurally post-program (p ≤ 0.01).
- Mean intent scores increased from 3.02 (pre) to 3.67 (post).
- Significant correlation found between intent and actual rural practice (p ≤ 0.001); 24.6% reported rural employment at 1-year follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Didactic and community-based experiences in AHEC Scholars programs encourage rural practice.
- Developing clear rural career pathways is crucial for attracting health professionals to rural communities.
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