tire sample was included for analysis . Of the 434 total respondents , 159 ( 36.6 %) reported participating in STEM education . Fifty ( 31.4 %) of those who participated in STEM reported that STEM education positively influenced their decision to become a physician , while 38 ( 23.8 %) indicated that STEM education positively influenced their practice location .
The AHEC program in WV began pipeline activities in 2001 ; thus , all respondents who graduated from high school prior to 2001 were excluded in analysis . Forty-three respondents graduated after 2001 . Of these , six ( 13.9 %) respondents reported participating in AHEC activities . Four of these respondents ( 67 %) reported that AHEC positively influenced their decision to become a physician . All six respondents ( 100 %) reported that AHEC positively influenced their practice location .
Study participants were also asked to report whether they had participated in any other health career programs during high school . Of the 434 total respondents , 151 ( 34.8 %) reported participating in another health career program ; 38 ( 25 %) indicated that participation positively influenced their decision to become a physician , and 30 ( 19.9 %) indicated that participation positively influenced their practice location .
Undergraduate , Medical School , and Residency Pipeline Participation
The RHEP / RHI ( 1994-2011 ) began in WV in 1994 ; thus , all respondents who graduated from medical school prior to 1994 were excluded from this analysis . Of the 196 respondents who remained , 77 indicated that they participated in RHEP , and 65 reported that they participated in RHI . Therefore , a total of 142 ( 72.4 %) respondents who graduated from medical school after the inception of RHEP participated in either the RHEP or RHI program . Of these respondents who participated in RHEP or RHI , a total of 35 ( 24.6 %) indicated that the program positively influenced their decision to become a physician , and 36 ( 25.3 %) reported that the program positively influenced their decision regarding their practice location .
IPT programs included all respondents
TABLE 1 : Factors that Influence the Decision to Practice Medicine in West Virginia by Medical School Attended ( continued )
Community Attributes n Not at All Slightly Moderately Very Extremely Patient mix 43 18 9 4 3 0
Employment benefits , i . e . insurance , retirement , vacation )
MU 43 25 9 5 1 3 WVSOM 34 15 6 10 3 0
WVU 120 47 15 31 19 8 Not WV 174 74 34 39 17 10
370 147 63 80 57 23
MU 43 19 8 9 7 0 WVSOM 33 12 7 6 5 3
WVU 121 47 18 26 19 11 Not WV 173 69 30 39 26 9
Work autonomy 376 85 55 100 90 46 MU 44 13 8 10 9 4
WVSOM 33 8 4 10 9 2 WVU 123 22 22 31 32 16
Not WV 176 42 21 49 40 24
* MU : Marshall University , a public research university in Huntington , WV , founded in 1837 ; WVSOM : West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine , a public medical school located in Lewisburg , WV , founded in 1974 ; WVU : West Virginia University , a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown , WV
FIGURE 1 : Respondent Practice Specialty and Population of Residency Program Location
Number of Responses
400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
< 50k 50k to 100k > 100k Total Specialty Care 73 8 110 191 Primary Care 134 14 59 207
Population of Residency Program Location
( 434 ) in analysis . One hundred fifty-four ( 35.5 %) respondents reported some sort of interprofessional training during their education . Of those who reported IPT participation , 29 ( 18.8 %) indicated that this training had positively influenced their decision to become a physician , and 26 ( 16.9 %) indicated that this training had positively influenced their practice location .
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