Accepted Type
Facilitated and Dedicated Poster
Code
LP4 - 02
Acceptance Declaration
Accept
Additional Information
I declare I have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program.
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
no
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Oral
Sub Type
Education Research
Will the presenter be a:
Student
Affiliation
Considered for Poster
yes
Title
Differences in debt load of Canadian medical students by race, ethnicity, and rurality
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
The cost of medical education has risen significantly in Canada. The aim of our study is to explore the differences in socioeconomic status, indebtedness, and financial behaviours and stress between various ethnic groups, and by rurality.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional survey among medical students at fourteen English-speaking medical schools across Canada. We used descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to identify covariates significantly associated with our primary outcome measure: anticipated total debt above $100,000 upon graduation. Multivariate logistic regression models were fit to determine whether race and ethnicity and rural status were significant predictors of medical student debt. Due to insufficient sample size, regression analyses did not include Black and Indigenous students.
Results
In total, 830 (62.8%) of students reported an anticipated debt of over $100,000. By race and ethnicity, 641 (67.1%) were White; 11 (50%) were Black; 88 (57.9%) Chinese; 27 (56.3%) Indigenous; and 68 (56.7%) were South Asian. By rural status, the proportions were Urban (547; 64.9%) and Rural (283; 59.1%). Compared to White students, Chinese (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.65) and South Asian ethnicities (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.68) were associated with lower odds of anticipated debt exceeding $100,000. There was no statistically significant difference in debt levels between urban and rural status.
Conclusion
Chinese and South Asian medical students were significantly less likely to report anticipated debt compared to White students.
Keyword 1
undergraduate medical education
Keyword 2
cross-sectional survey
Keyword 3
quantitative analysis
Level of Training
Undergraduate
Abstract Themes
Undergraduate
Additional Theme (First choice)
Undergraduate
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Admissions
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Student Affairs
Authors
Presenter
Ji Yun (Jenny) Lee
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
