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Medical school admission processes to target rural applicants: an international scoping review and mapping of Australian practices.

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dc.contributor.authorFox, J.
dc.contributor.authorBeattie, J.
dc.contributor.authorMcGrail, J.
dc.contributor.authorEley, D.
dc.contributor.authorFuller, L.
dc.contributor.authorHu, W.
dc.contributor.authorKeniry, C.
dc.contributor.authorChennakesavan, S.K.
dc.contributor.authorParker-Newlyn, L.
dc.contributor.authorReid, K.
dc.contributor.authorWalters, L.
dc.contributor.authorMcGrail, M.
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Recruiting more rural origin applicants to medical school is a high priority for addressing rural workforce shortages, given evidence demonstrating they are more likely to practice rurally. Whether strategies used to select rural applicants for Australian medical schools are evidence-based is yet to be evaluated in depth. The primary aim of this study was to identify admission and selection processes utilised by Australian medical schools to target rural applicants and evaluate whether they are evidence-based against international literature. A secondary aim was to document the volume and type of publicly available information regarding admission and selection processes in Australian medical schools. METHODS: The study comprised two stages: (1) identified and summarised admission elements used in each Australian medical school (all pathways), how they are weighted and used to select applicants, and what strategies are used to specifically target rural origin applicants, as determined by publicly available information; and (2) conducted a scoping review of international literature to document the evidence relating to medical school admissions processes which target rural applicants and how they impact the selection of students. RESULTS: Australian medical schools employ a combination of academic performance and standardised tests to rank applicants for interview and admission; however, there was extensive variation in the specific admission elements assessed and how they were weighted and used to rank applicants. All except one medical school tailored entry requirements for rural applicants. Scoping review data revealed that on average, rural applicants achieve lower scores on academic performance metrics, although this difference was less pronounced in graduate entry compared to school leaver pathways. Overall, rural applicants achieved lower scores on standardised tests and results relating to interview performance were inconsistent across studies. CONCLUSIONS: In addressing the lower mean scores from rural applicants across commonly used admission tests, our evidence confirms that modified admission processes for this applicant group are needed and are being implemented across Australian medical programs. Medical schools should continue to implement rurally-targeted admissions strategies such as adjusted entry requirements, quotas, and alternative entry pathways while setting clearly defined selection targets and evaluating the effectiveness of any strategies.
dc.identifier.citationBMC Medical Education, 2025; 25(1):659-659
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s12909-025-07234-3
dc.identifier.issn1472-6920
dc.identifier.issn1472-6920
dc.identifier.orcidFox, J. [0000-0001-8367-5297]
dc.identifier.orcidWalters, L. [0000-0002-1322-1895]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/43285
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.rightsCopyright 2025 The Author(s). This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07234-3
dc.subjectAustralia
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectRural Health Services
dc.subjectRural Population
dc.subjectSchool Admission Criteria
dc.subjectSchools, Medical
dc.subjectStudents, Medical
dc.subjectAdmission and selection
dc.subjectMedical education
dc.subjectMedical workforce
dc.subjectSocial accountability
dc.subjectSocial missions
dc.titleMedical school admission processes to target rural applicants: an international scoping review and mapping of Australian practices.
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.fileinfo12302234570001831 13302234560001831 Open Access Published Version
ror.mmsid9916975545001831

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