Does community- or university-based residency sponsorship affect future practice profiles?

Abstract

Background and objectives: The educational sponsor of a residency program (ie, community based versus university based, opposed versus unopposed) is one of the most influential factors in medical students' choice of a training program. This study examined the practice profiles of South Carolina family practice residency graduates to determine whether there were significant differences based on program sponsorship.

Methods: A survey was mailed to the 1,335 graduates of South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (SC AHEC)-affiliated residency programs. Data were summarized and analyzed using the Epi-Info statistical program. Significance was preset at the P < .01 level.

Results: A total of 720 (56.0%) surveys were returned. Community-based program graduates were more likely to practice in the state, in a rural area, and closer to their residency site. University-based program graduates were more likely to practice in academic settings (18.9% versus 6.3%). Several minor differences in procedures performed were noted, with some procedures performed more commonly by physicians trained in university-based programs and others by physicians trained in community programs. No differences in salaries orpersonal or professional satisfaction between groups was found.

Conclusions: The current study found some differences in location of practice but found few differences in procedures performed, salaries, or satisfaction based on sponsorship of residency.