Table 1 Frequency of themes and subthemes across year levels
Theme | Subtheme | Year 2 n = 167 | Year 4 n = 300 | Year 6 n = 213 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | Frequency | Percentage | ||
Scope of practice | Diversity/variety | 74 | 44 | 55 | 18 | 43 | 20 |
Opportunities/experience | 19 | 11 | 90 | 30 | 5 | 2.5 | |
Experience/involvement | 2 | 1 | 35 | 11.5 | 91 | 44 | |
Working with doctors | Mentor/ Role model | 34 | 13 | 84 | 21.6 | 51 | 15 |
Teacher/supporter | 8 | 8 | 42 | 14 | 42 | 21 | |
Realities of rural practice | Limited resources/long hours | 18 | 11 | 21 | 7 | 26 | 12 |
Autonomy | 4 | 2 | 21 | 7 | 22 | 11 | |
Satisfaction | 25 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 18 | 9 | |
Rural-Urban practice | 0 | 0 | 19 | 6.3 | 24 | 11 | |
Teamwork | Participation in | 0 | 0 | 28 | 9 | 48 | 23.5 |
Relationships | 12 | 7 | 35 | 11.5 | 45 | 22 | |
Altruism | Workforce need | 6 | 3.5 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 3.5 |
Making a difference | 26 | 15.5 | 24 | 8 | 18 | 9 | |
Commitment to rural | 14 | 8 | 23 | 7.5 | 15 | 7.5 | |
Future pathway | Job opportunities & Pathways | 26 | 14 | 76 | 25 | 61 | 29 |
Ongoing support network | 3 | 2 | 20 | 6.5 | 41 | 20 | |
Finance | Incentives | 14 | 8 | 44 | 14.5 | 22 | 11 |
Remuneration | 8 | 8 | 54 | 18.5 | 34 | 16 | |
Family considerations | Good place to raise children | 11 | 6.5 | 20 | 6.5 | 19 | 9 |
Partner employment/support | 6 | 3.5 | 18 | 6 | 15 | 7.5 | |
Distance from family/city | 10 | 6 | 22 | 7 | 27 | 12.5 | |
Lifestyle | Work/life balance | 22 | 13 | 71 | 23.5 | 48 | 24 |
Sense of community | 56 | 33.5 | 80 | 26.5 | 56 | 26 | |
Size and location | 11 | 6.5 | 20 | 6.5 | 18 | 10 | |
Availability of facilities/activities | 36 | 21.5 | 48 | 16 | 16 | 9 | |