Assessing Factors that Influence the Satisfaction of Community-Based Faculty with Precepting Health Professions Students in the State of Georgia

Community-based preceptors provide the clinical training necessary to prepare health professions students for clinical practice. The number of students in need of clinical placement is growing as the number of preceptors declines. The mission of the Georgia Area Health Education Centers is to increase access to primary care services in underserved rural and urban areas by recruiting, training, and retaining health professionals. A survey of preceptors in the State of Georgia was conducted in 2023 to gain insight into motivations for, satisfaction with, and barriers to precepting. Of 11,174 clinicians who had precepted within the past 5 years, 1,270 completed the survey (11% response rate). The survey revealed that, while preceptors reported satisfaction with the precepting experience and impact of students on their practice, they were less satisfied with the incentives provided. Current preceptors were younger, male, and precepted for a longer period of time and for more rotations per year. A regression analysis revealed that satisfaction with precepting was somewhat higher among preceptors who were 60 years old or older, a physician or PA, and practicing in a nonrural clinical site. Satisfaction was also somewhat higher among those who precepted for 2 or fewer years, for 10 or more rotations per year, and intended to continue teaching over the next 5 years. An analysis 114 free-text comments revealed themes that reinforce the concepts of teaching as an enjoyable and rewarding endeavor, the effect of teaching on clinical productivity, and a desire for better compensation for their efforts.