The relevance of population health to academic medicine

Public health and community medicine instruction and physician practice location

BACKGROUND

Experts have historically recommended better integration of public health content into medical education. Whether this adoption is associated with physician practice location has not been studied.

PURPOSE

To examine the association between medical student perception of their public health and community medicine instruction and practice location in a Health Professional Shortage Area.

METHODS

Descriptive analysis and a regression model assessed the significance and strength of the association between medical student perception of their public health and community medicine instruction and practice location using data from the Medical School Graduation Questionnaire 1997-2004, 2013 American Medical Association Physician Masterfile, and 2013 Health Professional Shortage Areas.

RESULTS

A higher proportion of medical students with an intent to practice in underserved areas reported inadequate instruction in public health and community medicine than those without such intentions. Students reporting adequate public health and community medicine instruction are slightly more likely to practice in a Health Professional Shortage Area, controlling for their intent to practice in underserved areas.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest an association between perceptions of public health and community medicine instruction and practice location. Improved public health and community medicine instruction may support medical students' preparation and ability to integrate public health skills into practices in underserved settings. More research is needed to ascertain factors enabling better incorporation of public health and community medicine in medical education.