{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]],"date-time":"2026-09-04T11:49:07Z","timestamp":1788522547058,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]],"date-time":"2024-02-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1708646400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]],"date-time":"2024-02-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1708646400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BMC Health Serv Res"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Medical internship is a key transition point in medical training from student to independent (junior) doctor. The national Regional Training Hubs (RTH) policy began across Australia in late 2017, which aims to build medical training pathways for junior doctors within a rural region and guide students, interns and trainees towards these. This study aims to explore preferencing and acceptance trends for rural medical internship positions in Queensland. Moreover, it focuses on internship preference and acceptance outcomes prior to and following the establishment of RTHs, and their association with key covariates such as rural training immersions offered by medical schools.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Data from all applicants to Queensland Health intern positions between 2014\u20132021 were available, notably their preference order and location of accepted internship position, classified as rural or metropolitan. Matched data from Queensland\u2019s medical schools were added for rural training time and other key demographics. Analyses explored the statistical associations between these factors and preferencing or accepting rural internships, comparing pre-RTH and post-RTH cohorts.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Domestic Queensland-trained graduates first preferencing rural intern positions increased significantly (pre-RTH 21.1% vs post-RTH 24.0%,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.017), reinforced by a non-significant increase in rural acceptances (27.3% vs 29.7%,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.070). Rural interns were more likely to have previously spent\u2009\u2265\u200911-weeks training in rural locations within medical school, be rurally based in the year applying for internship, or enrolled in the rural generalist pathway.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The introduction of the RTH was associated with a moderate increase of graduates both preferencing and accepting a rural internship, though a richer understanding of the dominant reasons for and against this remain less clear. An expansion of graduates who undertook longer periods of undergraduate rural training in the same period did not diminish the proportion choosing a rural internship, suggesting there remains an appetite for these opportunities. Overall, domestic graduates are identified as a reliable source of intern recruitment and retention to rural hospitals across Queensland, with entry to the rural generalist pathway and extended rural placement experiences enhancing uptake of rural practice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-024-10683-z","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]],"date-time":"2024-02-23T02:02:33Z","timestamp":1708653753000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Exploring recent trends (2014\u201321) in preferencing and accepting Queensland medical internships in rural hospitals"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"24","author":[{"given":"Matthew","family":"McGrail","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Torres","family":"Woolley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Janani","family":"Pinidiyapathirage","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kath","family":"Paton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Deborah","family":"Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kay","family":"Brumpton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peta-Ann","family":"Teague","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]]},"reference":[{"issue":"10","key":"10683_CR1","first-page":"2022","volume":"11","author":"F Noya","year":"2022","unstructured":"Noya F, Carr S, Freeman K, Thompson S, Clifford R, Playford D. Strategies to facilitate improved recruitment, development, and retention of the rural and remote medical workforce: A scoping review. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2022;11(10):2022\u201337.","journal-title":"Int J Health Policy Manag"},{"issue":"3 Suppl","key":"10683_CR2","first-page":"S8","volume":"219","author":"M McGrail","year":"2023","unstructured":"McGrail M, Doyle Z, Fuller L, Sen Gupta T, Shires L, Walters L. The pathway to more rural doctors: the role of universities. Med J Aust. 2023;219(3 Suppl):S8\u201313.","journal-title":"Med J Aust"},{"issue":"1","key":"10683_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-017-0931-2","volume":"17","author":"N Sturman","year":"2017","unstructured":"Sturman N, Tan Z, Turner J. \u201cA steep learning curve\u201d: junior doctor perspectives on the transition from medical student to the health-care workplace. BMC Med Educ. 2017;17(1):92.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"10683_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.5116\/ijme.6229.d795","volume":"13","author":"Y Carlsson","year":"2022","unstructured":"Carlsson Y, Nilsdotter A, Bergman S, Liljedahl M. Junior doctors\u2019 experiences of the medical internship: a qualitative study. Int J Med Educ. 2022;13:66.","journal-title":"Int J Med Educ"},{"key":"10683_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11835","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph182211835","volume":"18","author":"M McGrail","year":"2021","unstructured":"McGrail M, O\u2019Sullivan BG, Gurney T, Eley D, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S. Exploring doctors\u2019 emerging commitment to rural and general practice roles over their early career. Int J Environ Res Pub Health. 2021;18:11835.","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Pub Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"10683_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159X.2022.2106839","volume":"45","author":"Y Zhao","year":"2023","unstructured":"Zhao Y, Mbuthia D, Blacklock C, Gathara D, Nicodemo C, Molyneux S, et al. How do foundation year and internship experience shape doctors\u2019 career intentions and decisions? A meta-ethnography Med Teach. 2023;45(1):97\u2013110.","journal-title":"A meta-ethnography Med Teach"},{"key":"10683_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1186\/s12960-023-00819-3","volume":"21","author":"M McGrail","year":"2023","unstructured":"McGrail M, Gurney T, Fox J, Martin P, Eley D, Nasir B, et al. Rural medical workforce pathways: Exploring the importance of postgraduation rural training time. Hum Resour Health. 2023;21:31.","journal-title":"Hum Resour Health"},{"key":"10683_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-020-02103-7","volume":"20","author":"J Bailey","year":"2020","unstructured":"Bailey J, Pit S. Medical students on long-term rural clinical placements and their perceptions of urban and rural internships: a qualitative study. BMC Med Educ. 2020;20:1\u20138.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"issue":"3","key":"10683_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1111\/ajr.12633","volume":"28","author":"AN Isaacs","year":"2020","unstructured":"Isaacs AN, Raymond A, Jacob A, Hawkings P. Job satisfaction of rural medical interns: A qualitative study. Aust J Rural Health. 2020;28(3):245\u201351.","journal-title":"Aust J Rural Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"10683_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"565","DOI":"10.4081\/jphia.2016.565","volume":"7","author":"GI Mbemba","year":"2016","unstructured":"Mbemba GI, Gagnon MP, Hamelin-Brabant L. Factors Influencing Recruitment and Retention of Healthcare Workers in Rural and Remote Areas in Developed and Developing Countries: An Overview. J Public Health Afr. 2016;7(2):565.","journal-title":"J Public Health Afr"},{"key":"10683_CR11","first-page":"CD005314","volume":"6","author":"L Grobler","year":"2015","unstructured":"Grobler L, Marais B, Mabunda S. Interventions for increasing the proportion of health professionals practising in rural and other underserved areas. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;6:CD005314.","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev."},{"key":"10683_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12960-015-0017-3","volume":"13","author":"J Farmer","year":"2015","unstructured":"Farmer J, Kenny A, McKinstry C, Huysmans R. A scoping review of the association between rural medical education and rural practice location. Hum Resourc Health. 2015;13:1\u201315.","journal-title":"Hum Resourc Health"},{"issue":"12","key":"10683_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e009574","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2015-009574","volume":"5","author":"V Isaac","year":"2015","unstructured":"Isaac V, Walters L, McLachlan C. Association between self-efficacy, career interest and rural career intent in Australian medical students with rural clinical school experience. BMJ Open. 2015;5(12):e009574.","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"issue":"4","key":"10683_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0b013e3182488c06","volume":"87","author":"HK Rabinowitz","year":"2012","unstructured":"Rabinowitz HK, Diamond JJ, Karkham FW, Santana AJ. The relationship between entering medical students\u2019 backgrounds and career plans and their rural practice outcomes three decades later. Acad Med. 2012;87(4):493\u20137.","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"issue":"7","key":"10683_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0180394","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0180394","volume":"12","author":"MMS Kwan","year":"2017","unstructured":"Kwan MMS, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Ranmuthugala G, Toombs MR, Nicholson GC. The rural pipeline to longer-term rural practice: general practitioners and specialists. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(7):e0180394.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"5","key":"10683_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"298","DOI":"10.1111\/ajr.12323","volume":"25","author":"MR McGrail","year":"2017","unstructured":"McGrail MR, Russell D. Australia\u2019s rural medical workforce: supply from its medical schools against career stage, gender and rural-origin. Aust J Rural Health. 2017;25(5):298\u2013305.","journal-title":"Aust J Rural Health"},{"issue":"8","key":"10683_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"803","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.13578","volume":"52","author":"BG O\u2019Sullivan","year":"2018","unstructured":"O\u2019Sullivan BG, McGrail MR, Russell DJ, Walker J, Chambers H, Major L, et al. Duration and setting of rural immersion during the medical degree relates to rural work outcomes. Med Educ. 2018;52(8):803\u201315.","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"10683_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2018.08.014","volume":"214","author":"J Yong","year":"2018","unstructured":"Yong J, Scott A, Gravelle H, Sivey P, McGrail M. Do rural incentives payments affect entries and exits of general practitioners? Soc Sci Med. 2018;214:197\u2013205.","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"10683_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2013.07.002","volume":"96","author":"A Scott","year":"2013","unstructured":"Scott A, Witt J, Humphreys JS, Joyce C, Kalb G, Jeon S-H, et al. Getting doctors into the bush: general practitioners\u2019 preferences for rural location. Soc Sci Med. 2013;96(1):33\u201344.","journal-title":"Soc Sci Med"},{"key":"10683_CR20","unstructured":"Department of Health and Aged Care. Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program 2023. https:\/\/www.health.gov.au\/our-work\/rhmt .Accessed 13 Jul 2023."},{"key":"10683_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5056","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph16245056","volume":"16","author":"MR McGrail","year":"2019","unstructured":"McGrail MR, O\u2019Sullivan BG, Russell DJ. Rural work and specialty choices of international students graduating from Australian medical schools: implications for policy. Int J Environ Res Pub Health. 2019;16:5056.","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Pub Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"10683_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"930","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-020-05779-1","volume":"20","author":"MR McGrail","year":"2020","unstructured":"McGrail MR, O\u2019Sullivan BG, Russell DJ, Rahman M. Exploring preference for, and uptake of, rural medical internships, a key issue for supporting rural training pathways. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020;20(1):930.","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"10683_CR23","unstructured":"Queensland Health. Medical intern positions 2023. https:\/\/www.health.qld.gov.au\/employment\/work-for-us\/medical\/recruitment\/intern\/positions .Accessed 13 Jul 2023."},{"key":"10683_CR24","unstructured":"Queensland Government. What is The Generalist Pathway? 2023. https:\/\/ruralgeneralist.qld.gov.au\/why-the-pathway\/ .Accessed 13 Jul 2023."},{"key":"10683_CR25","unstructured":"Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand. Data dashboard - Medical student numbers 2023. https:\/\/medicaldeans.org.au\/ .Accessed 3rd August 2023."},{"issue":"2","key":"10683_CR26","first-page":"1","volume":"13","author":"T Sen Gupta","year":"2013","unstructured":"Sen Gupta T, Murray R, Hays R, Woolley T. James Cook University MBBS graduate intentions and intern destinations: a comparative study with other Queensland and Australian medical schools. Rural Remote Health. 2013;13(2):1\u201310.","journal-title":"Rural Remote Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"10683_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.5694\/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01177.x","volume":"187","author":"DS Eley","year":"2007","unstructured":"Eley DS, Baker PG. Will Australian rural clinical schools be an effective workforce strategy? Early indications of their positive effect on intern choice and rural career interest. Med J Aust. 2007;187(3):166\u20137.","journal-title":"Med J Aust"},{"issue":"4","key":"10683_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"236","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1440-1584.2005.00708.x","volume":"13","author":"G-S Han","year":"2005","unstructured":"Han G-S, Humphreys JS. Overseas-trained doctors in Australia: Community integration and their intention to stay in a rural community. Aust J Rural Health. 2005;13(4):236\u201341.","journal-title":"Aust J Rural Health"}],"container-title":["BMC Health Services Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12913-024-10683-z.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12913-024-10683-z\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12913-024-10683-z.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]],"date-time":"2024-02-23T02:04:02Z","timestamp":1708653842000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12913-024-10683-z"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]]},"references-count":28,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12]]}},"alternative-id":["10683"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12913-024-10683-z","relation":{},"ISSN":["1472-6963"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1472-6963","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,23]]},"assertion":[{"value":"8 November 2023","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"5 February 2024","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"23 February 2024","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The project was approved by the Townsville Hospital and Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (HREC\/QTHS\/77113) and ratified by partner university HRECs (James Cook University H8521; University of Queensland: 2021\/HE001740; Griffith University: 2021\/536; Bond University: 14765). Ethics approval covered access to intern campaign data from the data custodian within QH and access to individual student data for respective investigators from participating universities. The need for individual consent was waived by all five named HRECs.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"236"}}