Empiric validation of the Rural Australian Medical Undergraduate Scholarship 'rural background' criterion
Date
2005
Authors
Laven, G.
Wilkinson, D.
Beilby, J.
McElroy, H.
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Journal article
Citation
Australian Journal of Rural Health, 2005; 13(3):137-141
Statement of Responsibility
Gillian A. Laven, David Wilkinson, Justin J. Beilby and Heather J. McElroy
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Rural Australian Medical Undergraduate Scholarships (RAMUS) provide $10 000 per annum to selected medical students with a rural background. Eligibility criteria include having lived in a rural community for five consecutive or eight cumulative years. We sought to validate the above-specified criterion using data from the Australian National Rural Background Study. DESIGN: National case control study stratified by jurisdiction. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand four hundred and fourteen Australian-trained rural and urban general practitioners (GPs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Whether the RAMUS rural background criterion was met or not. RESULTS: Doctors who met the RAMUS rural background criterion were more likely to be in rural practice (odds ratio = 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.97–3.18) than those who did not. This was true for all jurisdictions (except for the Northern Territory) and ranged from 1.95 for South Australia to 3.57 for Victoria. CONCLUSION: Rural GPs are more likely to fulfil the RAMUS rural background criterion, supporting the existence of the RAMUS scheme.
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