Choosing regional, rural, and remote practice: what attracts or deters early-career doctors?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Enhancing the retention of medical professionals in regional, rural and remote (RRR) areas requires a multi-faceted strategy that acknowledges and addresses the contextual barriers doctors face when deciding whether to continue practising in RRR hospitals. Gaining a deeper understanding of these factors can inform evidence-based workforce planning and policy development to mitigate the rural physician shortage across Australia. This study aimed to explore motivators and perceived barriers among junior medical doctors when choosing their training location- whether in RRR hospitals or metropolitan settings- during the early years of postgraduate training.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted using virtual one-on-one interviews. The setting included four Hospita

SUBMITTER: Minooee S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12522945 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature