Positive change in intent to practice rurally is strongly associated with nursing and allied health students of metropolitan origin after rural clinical placement

Abstract

Objective: To: (1) assess whether rural clinical placements influence change in intention to practice rurally for nursing and allied health students, (2) to assess whether residential origin (metropolitan or rural) or university location (metropolitan or non-metropolitan) influence this change, and (3) assess residential origin of health professionals practicing rurally after graduation.

Design: Cross-sectional survey (2014-2022) conducted in Northern/Northeastern Victoria and Grampians region by nursing and allied health students completing rural clinical placements. Survey explored student placement satisfaction, intention to practice rurally and demographic information, with a follow-up two years' post-placement.

Findings: Experience of a rural placement increased students' intention of practicing rurally. Importantly, 57% of metropolitan origin students studying at metropolitan campuses exhibited positive change. Logistic regression analysis suggested that after controlling for age, gender and satisfaction with placement and supervision, students of metropolitan origin at metropolitan campuses were 6.4 times more likely to report positive change in intent to practice rurally after placement than students of rural origin studying at non-metropolitan campuses.Follow-up data suggested that a substantial proportion of health professionals providing services in rural areas were of metropolitan origin.

Results: These findings concur that rural origin and rural training are important predictors of working rurally. Additionally, metropolitan students can change their intention to practice rurally after a rural placement.

Conclusions: This study supports strategies to enhance intention to practice rurally that are not restricted to rural origin students to build rural workforce.

Keywords: nursing education; rural education for allied health; rural health; rural workforce; student placements.