Campbell N, Farthing A, Lenthall S, Moore L, Anderson J, Witt S, Rissel C. Workplace locations of allied health and nursing graduates who undertook a placement in the Northern Territory of Australia from 2016 to 2019: An observational cohort study.
Aust J Rural Health 2021;
29:947-957. [PMID:
34490936 DOI:
10.1111/ajr.12784]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to determine the current work locations of allied health professionals and nurses who undertook a student placement in the Northern Territory of Australia from 2016-2019.
DESIGN
An observational cohort study was conducted in October 2020, with students emailed a link to an on-line survey, plus two reminders.
SETTING
Primary health care in the Northern Territory of Australia.
PARTICIPANTS
All allied health and nursing students who undertook a student learning placement in the Northern Territory from 2016-2019 (n = 1936).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Practicing nurses and allied health professionals were asked about their work history and locations (coded using the Modified Monash Model of remoteness and population size).
RESULTS
The response rate was 14.2% (275/1936 students). Most respondents reported that their placement positively influenced them to consider working: in a rural or remote location (76%), in the Northern Territory (81%), and with marginalised or under-served populations (74%). Of the respondents, 224 had graduated and 203 were currently working in their health profession. A total of 31.4% of respondents reported that they had worked in a remote or rural location after graduation.
CONCLUSIONS
The student placement had a positive effect on the likelihood of students working in a rural or remote location. A focus on recruiting students with a remote upbringing/background and offering longer placements would likely be successful in helping build the health professional workforce in remote locations.
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