Determinants of Working Practice Location for Clinicians According to High School, Medical School, and Resident Training Locations in Korea.

Although several regulations have been implemented for medical school admission, such as a quota system, the uneven distribution of healthcare personnel across regions is an unresolved problem in Korea. This study explores the distribution and retention rate of clinicians across regions according to the degree of experience staying in the current clinical area during high school/medical school/resident training using 2016 Korean Physician Survey data. Both in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, clinicians who completed high school, medical school, and resident training in the current practice region (Subgroup D) accounted for the largest proportion (Metro, n = 1611, 46.1%; non-metro, n = 1917, 52.9%). The retention rate was the highest in Subgroup D both in metropolitan (84.3%) and non-metropolitan areas (Chungcheong 86.2%, Jeolla 79.9%, Daegu/Gyeongbuk 81.6%, Busan/Ulsan/Gyeongnam 93.3%) except Gangwon and Jeju. The second, third, and fourth highest retention rates were observed in cases where clinicians completed their high school and resident training, medical school and resident training, and resident training only, respectively, in all regions, although the ranking differs by region. To increase the retention rate of physicians, this study shows that it is necessary for a student to seek ways to continue training in the same region in which they graduated from medical school.