Factors influencing medical radiation science graduates’ early career principal place of practice: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Introduction While studies have investigated influences on graduate practice locations of other health professionals, especially medicine, none have investigated practice locations of medical radiation science (MRS) graduates. This study aimed to explore factors influencing the registered principal place of practice (PPP) of diagnostic radiography, radiation therapy and nuclear medicine graduates from the University of Newcastle (UON), Australia, in their second post‐graduate year. Methods Data were extracted from the UON enrolment and clinical placement databases and linked to Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (Ahpra) registration data for PPP location in 2019 for 187 graduates who completed their studies in 2017. Explanatory variables included age at enrolment, gender, MRS discipline, location of origin, socio‐economic index for location of origin, and locations and duration of undergraduate professional placements. Descriptive statistics, tests of association and logistic regression compared rural and non‐rural origin, and professional placement locations with Ahpra PPP. Results Factors related to non‐metropolitan PPP were location of origin (P = 0.002), number (P = 0.002) and duration (P = 0.007) of rural placements, and MRS discipline (P = 0.033). Controlling for other variables, location of origin and MRS discipline remained significant. Graduates of rural origin had up to 3.54 (95%CI = 1.51–8.28) times the odds of a rural PPP. Diagnostic radiography graduates had up to 5.46 (95%CI = 1.55–19.20) times the odds of nuclear medicine of a rural PPP. Conclusion To help reduce the gap between rural and metropolitan medical radiation service availability, there is a need for targeted recruitment of rural origin students. Further investigation of the effect of rural undergraduate MRS placements is justified.

Supporting nursing and allied health student placements in rural and remote Australia: a narrative review of publications by university departments of rural health

“…Some disciplines may have unique factors that influence rural practice. For medical radiation science students, specialty affected rural practice, as did number and duration of rural placements and rural background 15 . Diagnostic radiography graduates were significantly more likely to be practising rurally than those in nuclear medicine.…”

Do undertaking rural placements and place of origin inform where allied health graduates work in South Australia?

“…Moreover, the present study also found that a number of allied health students originated from rural areas later practised in rural and remote areas. Several previous studies have found that health professionals who were from rural origin were more likely to practice in rural areas 12–16 . However, given our limited data, a comprehensive study is required to examine the contribution of UDRH's rural placement program on addressing rural workforce maldistribution in SA.…”

“…Several previous studies have found that health professionals who were from rural origin were more likely to practice in rural areas. [12][13][14][15][16] However, given our limited data, a comprehensive study is required to examine the contribution of UDRH's rural placement program on addressing rural workforce maldistribution in SA.…”

‘Growing your own’ a case study of a collaborative training program in medical radiation science

“…A recent Australian study assessing factors related to non‐metropolitan primary place of practice (PPP) for Medical Radiation Science graduates found that location of origin, and type of Medical Radiation Science discipline were significant predictors of rural PPP after controlling for other variables. Graduates of rural origin were more likely to have a rural PPP (OR = 3.54) than those from metropolitan locations, with diagnostic radiography graduates more likely to have a rural PPP (OR = 5.46) than nuclear medicine graduates 14 …”

“…Graduates of rural origin were more likely to have a rural PPP (OR = 3.54) than those from metropolitan locations, with diagnostic radiography graduates more likely to have a rural PPP (OR = 5.46) than nuclear medicine graduates. 14 …”