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Introduction: The success of rural longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC) programs has contributed to our understanding of selecting and training students for rural practice. Studies have explored the personality traits of students who participate in rural LICs although few have compared them with classmates who have not. The purpose is to compare personalities of four successive cohorts of students in the LIC Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP) with their non-RPAP classmates. Methods: In a longitudinal cross-sectional design, medical students RPAP and non-RPAP, from 2013 to 2017 completed identical questionnaires comprising measures of personality, perfectionism, ambiguity tolerance, and resilience. T-tests, ANOVA, and post-hoc tests compared groups. K-means cluster analysis identified profiles of traits. Results: Total sample 286; RPAP = 128; non-RPAP = 158. Gender and age proportions were not different between groups. RPAP students were significantly lower in levels of perfectionism and higher in cooperativeness compared to non-RPAP classmates. Similar proportions of both groups were distributed across three personality profiles detected. Conclusions: Lower perfectionism implies advantages for rural practice. Nevertheless, similarities between groups suggest that most students would be successful in rural practice. More encouragement to all students may improve uptake of rural LICs. Greater attention to issues that affect decisions to explore rural medical education, particularly for our next generation of students, is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Despite increases in Commonwealth funded general practice (GP) Registrar training positions, workforce trends continue to show geographical maldistribution. This study aimed to identify Registrar attributes which describe a cohort choosing to work in rural practice. Design Cross-sectional self-report questionnaire for socio-demographics, prior training, current training pathway, measures of personality and resilience. Participants and Setting GP Registrars ( N = 452) training in either the general or rural pathways of three Registered Training Providers in three states, or training through the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine's independent pathway. Main outcome measure Ordinal logistic regression tested the impact of key variables on the likelihood that Registrars would settle in rural practice. Univariate analysis explored differences between groups and effects of variables. Results A significantly increased interest in rural practice was to found to exist among registrars who were male, identified themselves as being rural, had a partner who identified as being rural, were enrolled in a rural training pathway and had high levels of Cooperativeness. Conclusion We present a discriminating model combining socio-demographics, prior training and personality variables which challenges Australia to rethink Registrar attributes when training for rural general practice. With significant changes about to occur to GP training in Australia, this paper highlights the need for a more holistic approach which considers personal attributes such as Cooperativeness, rural identity and provision of geographically focused rural training pipelines to encourage Registrars to bond to individual rural communities and further develop their personal connectedness to country life and rural medical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:Resilience, coping with uncertainty and learning from mistakes are vital characteristics for all medical disciplines – particularly rural practice. Levels of coping constructs were examined in medical students with and without a rural background or an interest in rural practice. Methods:Cross-sectional surveys identified two personality profiles, and their association with levels of Tolerance of Ambiguity, Resilience, Perfectionism-High Standards and Concern over mistakes as constructs indicative of coping. Medical students (N = 797) were stratified by rural background and degree of rural interest. Mediation analysis tested the effect of personality profile on levels of the coping constructs. Results:More (72%) rural background students had Profile 1 which was associated with higher levels of Tolerance of Ambiguity, High standards, and Resilience, but lower Concern over mistakes. Non-rural background students reporting a strong rural interest also had Profile 1 (64%) and similar levels of coping constructs. Personality profile mediated the association between rural interest and levels of coping constructs regardless of background. Conclusions:Having a rural background or strong rural interest are associated with a personality profile that indicates a better capacity for coping. Personality may play a part in an individual’s interest in rural practice. Rural workforce initiatives through education should encourage and nurture students with a genuine interest in rural practice – regardless of background. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives To describe the personality profiles of International Medical Graduates ( IMGs) undertaking General Practice ( GP) training in Australia. A better understanding of the personal characteristics of IMGs may inform their training and enhance support for their vital contribution to the Australian rural workforce. Design Cross-sectional self-report questionnaires. Independent variables included socio-demographics, prior training, the Temperament and Character Inventory, and the Resilience Scale. Setting and participants GP registrars ( IMGs = 102; AMGs = 350) training in the Australian General Practice Training rural and general pathway and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine independent pathway. Main outcome measures Univariate analysis explored the differences in levels of traits between IMG and AMG registrars. Results Compared to the general population both groups have moderately high resilience, and well-organised characters with high Self-directedness, high Cooperativeness and low Self-transcendence, supported by temperaments which were high in Persistence and Reward Dependence. IMGs were different than AMGs in two temperament traits, Novelty Seeking and Persistence and two character traits, Self-directedness and Cooperativeness. Conclusions Factors such as cultural and training backgrounds, personal and professional expectations, and adjustments necessary to assimilate to a new lifestyle and health system are likely to be responsible for differences found between groups. Understanding the personality profiles of IMGs provides opportunities for targeted training and support which may in turn impact on their retention in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Personality traits refer to habitual patterns of behaviour, thoughts and emotions, and have been shown to influence health professionals' career pathways. The present study explored the associations between dietitians' personality profiles and the areas of dietetic practice they have previously worked. Methods: Survey of 346 dietitians; 95% female; aged 32 ± 10 years; median 7 years (range 0 – 35) since graduation. Personality traits were investigated using the Temperament and Character Inventory, and cluster analysis was used to group participants into three clusters, known as Profiles, based upon common combinations of personality trait levels. Relationships between personality clusters and areas of dietetic practice were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Compared with other participants, dietitians in Profile A displayed moderate levels of Harm Avoidance, Persistence and Self ‐ Directedness; dietitians in Profile B displayed higher levels of Persistence and Self ‐ Directedness, and lower levels of Harm Avoidance; and dietitians in Profile C displayed higher levels of Harm Avoidance and lower levels of Persistence and Self ‐ Directedness. Dietitians in Profile A were twice as likely to have worked in Private Practice/Consultancy compared with Profile C (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.07 – 3.38, P < 0.05), and dietitians in Profile B were over four times more likely to have worked in Food Service Management compared with Profile C (OR = 4.35, 95% CI: 1.47 – 12.84, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Dietitians' personality may influence their decision to work in some areas of dietetic practice. Employees and employers should be mindful of personal traits when making employment decisions because some environments may be more conducive to specific attributes of dietitians to facilitate competent performance in a role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Medical schools worldwide have developed rural primary care immersive experiences to nurture students' interest in future rural careers and address workforce shortages. Few studies have looked at the students who participate in these programs. This study explores personality traits in US and Australian students who undertake rural-focused medical training. Methods A cross-sectional cohort design used the Temperament and Character Inventory to identify levels of the 7 basic dimensions of personality. Data were collected in successive cohorts over 2007-2011. Multivariate analysis compared trait levels between groups and by demographic variables. Findings The majority of the 302 students (US-167; Australia-135) were female, aged 20-29 years and single. A greater proportion of US students reported being partnered, living longest in a small rural/remote community and having a rural background. Significant differences between groups were detected in several traits but effect sizes were small. The personality pattern of the combined sample indicates students with a mature and stable personality high in Self-Directedness, Persistence, and Cooperativeness. Rural background and marital status enhanced this pattern. Conclusions Despite coming from different educational and societal backgrounds, similar personality patterns are evident in US and Australian students who pursue rural medical education. Data provide support for a pattern of traits associated with a rural background and its predictive influence on interest in rural practice. Considering the international expansion of rural longitudinal integrated clerkships, understanding student attributes may assist in identifying strategies to enhance the rural workforce that are relevant across cultures and continents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Allied health (AH) includes many diverse professions, each with a unique contribution to healthcare, making it possible to consider these professions as person oriented (PO) or technique oriented (TO). This paper explored the personality traits of AH professionals from the perspective of both the PO or TO orientation and the individual professions. Methods. AH professionals (n = 562) provided demographic data and completed the Temperament and Character Inventory. Examination of the literature and a consultation process resulted in nine professions classified as PO and 10 classified as TO. Multivariate analyses compared levels of personality traits and demographic variables between the PO (n = 492) and TO (n = 70) groups, and the professions within the groups. Results. Professionals in the PO group showed significantly higher levels of traits that emphasise person orientation attributes, such as being sociable, empathic and cooperative, compared with AH professionals in professions with an emphasis on TO. Conclusions. Trends in personality traits among AH professionals were congruent with the PO and TO aspects of their chosen profession. This supports the usefulness of the PO and TO concepts in describing AH professions and may provide new clues for policy aiming to enhance job satisfaction, retention and career development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical schools worldwide are challenged to address the rural primary care workforce shortage by creating community-engaged curricula to nurture student interest in rural practice. Aim: To examine the personal characteristics of six consecutive rural longitudinal integrated clerkship student cohorts to understand whom the programs attract and select and thus inform the development of such programs. Method: A cross-sectional cohort design was used. Six cohorts (2007-2012) completed a survey on demographics and factors that influenced their choice of rural primary care. The Temperament and Character Inventory was used to measure personality. Analysis was mainly descriptive. Where appropriate univariate analysis compared variables between groups. Results: Sample size was 205 with the majority female (61%), between 25 and 29 years (64%), single (60%) and lived longest in rural communities with populations less than 20,000 (60%). Rural lifestyle, background and desire to work in underserved areas were noted to impact rural medicine interest. Professional satisfaction, personal and professional goals and family needs had the highest impact on career decisions, and financial concerns lowest. Conclusion: The stability of students' personal characteristics across cohorts and the workforce outcomes of this program suggest the recruitment process successfully nurtures students who will fit well into future rural practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To describe the personality (temperament and character traits) of remote Australian allied health professionals ( AHPs) . Recent research shows that health professionals can be differentiated by personality traits but little is known about the personality traits of AHPs. Design Cross-sectional (online) survey design with snowball sampling of participants. Setting and Participants Australian AHPs ( N = 561; women, n = 502) classified into Remote ( n = 266), Not Remote ( n = 295). Main outcome measure(s) Demographic variables and the Temperament and Character Inventory ( TCI R-140). Results Remote AHPs were higher in novelty seeking ( P = 0.037) and self-transcendence ( P = 0.042). Remote women were lower in harm avoidance ( P = 0.042). Older remote AHPS were lower in reward dependence ( P = 0.001); younger remote AHPs were lower in self directedness ( P = 0.001) and higher in harm avoidance ( P < 0.001). Women were more reward dependent ( P < 0.001) and cooperative ( P = 0.008) than men. Conclusions The sample demonstrated personality trait levels aligned with research on rural doctors and nurses and which might be advantageous for working in a challenging environment. Exploring the more stable nature of temperament traits coupled with the modifiable potential of character traits provides new insight into people who choose to work as a remote AHP. These findings might contribute to a better understanding of the personality trends in these AHPs which might provide clues to improve recruitment and retention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eley DS, Eley RM. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2011; 17: 380-387 Personality traits of Australian nurses and doctors: Challenging stereotypes? This study compared temperament and character traits of Australian registered nurses and general practitioners. A cross-sectional quantitative design used the Temperament and Character Inventory. Total sample size was 426. Only main effects were detected. Nurses were higher in the temperament traits of Novelty Seeking and Reward Dependence, lower in the character traits of Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness but higher in Self-Transcendence compared with the sample of doctors. Differences in personality profiles between registered nurses and general practitioners might challenge existing stereotypes between these professions. Further exploration of traits exclusive to and shared among health professions would supplement a broad conceptualization of specialities and support the enhancement of appropriate training and career counselling. Awareness of one's temperament and character can lead to a clearer understanding of how they function in the workplace and might encourage reflection on and insight into the implications of their personality and career plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe individual temperament and character trait profiles associated with nurses and nursing students in a large regional health district and university in Australia. Identification of personality characteristics have been undertaken in most professions; however there is little extant literature on nurses which looks at specific aspects of temperament and character. A cross-sectional quantitative study of nurses and nursing students in a large regional health service district and university in South East Queensland, Australia. An online survey to nurses and nursing students included a demographic questionnaire and the temperament and character inventory (TCI) to identify levels of the seven basic dimensions of temperament and character. Univariate analysis made multiple and covariate comparisons between TCI scores, nurses, students, working status and age. The target number of responses was exceeded and totalled 451. Results are reported for females who comprised 90% of respondents; 53·5% students and 46·5% nurses. Significant main effects for age and student status were detected in several temperament and character inventory dimensions. Working students had significantly different temperament and character profiles compared to non-working students. Overall, this sample displays levels of temperament and character traits congruent with a profession requiring high levels of persistence, self-directedness, cooperativeness and reward dependence. Our findings prompt further investigation of whether individuals with the requisite temperament traits are attracted to nursing, or do individuals develop certain character traits as a product of their professional experiences/training. The identification of distinct profiles of temperament and character traits among different nursing roles may provide insight into what traits are conducive to retention of nurses in these roles. The predictive potential of the temperament traits plus the modifiable component of character traits may provide scope for nursing educators and policy-makers to assist in recruitment and retention of nurses in the workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although contentious most medical schools interview potential students to assess personal abilities such as communication. Aims: To investigate any differences in clinical communication skills (CCS) between first year students admitted to UQ medical school with or without an admissions interview. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1495 student assessment scores obtained after structured communication skills training (CCS) between 2007 and 2010. Results: The average assessment score was 3.76 ([95% CI, 3.73-3.78]) and adjusting for student characteristics, showed no main effect for interview ( p = 0.89). The strongest predictor of scores was gender with females achieving significantly higher scores (3.91 [95% CI, 3.54-4.28] vs. 3.76 [95% CI, 3.39-4.13]; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Data show no differences in post-training assessment measures between students who were interviewed during selection or not. Further research about the quality and retention of communications skills after training is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]