Probability of Yamaguchi University Students Remaining in Yamaguchi Prefecture for Medical Training

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the probability of receiving their subsequent medical training in Yamaguchi prefecture among students of Yamaguchi University School of Medicine. We conducted a self-administrated questionnaire including questions asking about the probability of early medical training and specialty training in Yamaguchi prefecture. In total, 447 of 600 students of 2010 fiscal year responded and 440 completed questionnaires were analyzed. The rates of students with a more than 70% probability were 32. 7% for early training and 30. 5% for specialty training, and the rates with a more than 50% probability were 57. 0% for early training and 54. 8% for specialty training. Factors that increased probability were female gender, 1st and 6th year students, scholarships and rural quota, and coming from Yamaguchi and neighboring prefectures. Among 1st to 5th year students, there was no trend indicative of an increasing probability. In order to increase the probability of medical training in Yamaguchi prefecture, undergraduate education and postgraduate medical training should be both more substantial and more attractive, in addition to incentives such as scholarships.