Comparison of urban and rural general surgeons: motivations for practice location, practice patterns, and education requirements.

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the differences between rural and urban surgeons with regard to practice patterns, factors in choosing a practice location, and educational needs.

Study Design: A list of surgeons obtained from the American Medical Association was examined using the Office of Management and Budget definition of rural. Seventeen hundred rural surgeons were mailed surveys; 421 responded.