Related Experiment Videos
A medical school for rural areas
K Inoue1, Y Hirayama, M Igarashi
1Department of Community and Family Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
Medical Education
|February 17, 1998
Summary
Jichi Medical School successfully trains doctors for rural practice. A significant percentage of its graduates continue to serve in underserved areas, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in addressing global rural doctor shortages.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Public Health Policy
- Rural Health Disparities
Background:
- Jichi Medical School (JMS) was founded in 1972 to address the scarcity of medical professionals in rural regions.
- Unique institutional characteristics were implemented to incentivize graduates towards rural practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 24-year impact of Jichi Medical School's initiatives on graduate distribution.
- To assess the long-term effectiveness of JMS in supplying doctors to rural areas.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive questionnaire survey was administered to all JMS graduates.
- A proactive follow-up strategy ensured a near 100% response rate.
- Analysis included annual graduate distribution and the 1995 status of all alumni.
Main Results:
- In 1995, 42% (792/1871) of JMS graduates were practicing in rural areas across Japan.
- Of graduates from the first nine cohorts, 93% fulfilled their 9-year service commitment.
- Among those fulfilling their commitment, 67% practiced in their home prefecture, and 33% remained in rural practice.
Conclusions:
- Jichi Medical School has demonstrated success in its mission to provide physicians for underserved rural communities.
- The JMS model offers an effective strategy for mitigating the persistent global challenge of rural physician shortages.