Abstract
The survey research was aimed at determining the retention rate of medical graduates of Khon Kaen
University in Northeastern Part, after their compulsory three-year bonded period. The population under
study were physicians who graduated from Khon Kaen medical school during the period 1979-2000. The
list of alumni was colleted from the Alumni Association and Medical Education section. The list of alumni
and their workplaces was investigated from Provincial Health Offices and the GIS of the Ministry of
Public Health. The incomplete list of alumni and their workplaces was investigated by searching telephone
numbers and asking questions of the alumni deputy. The list of alumni was verified by teachers
who had to visit the alumni at their workplaces. The data were analyzed using percentages. The research
findings were as follows:
1. The medical graduates remaining in the Northeast (70%) was higher than the quota rate (60%) by
10 percent.
2. The distribution of alumni was as follows: in the Northeast 70 percent and in Bangkok 11.65 percent.
Compared with findings in 1992, the distribution in the Northeast decreased by 3 percent whereas in
Bangkok it increased by 1.85 percent.
3. The alumni were stationed in large hospital (51%) more than community hospitals (49%).
4. The alumni in the Northeast worked at community hospitals 26.88 percent, regional hospitals
25.48 percent and private hospital 3.46 percent.
5. The production of the Collaborative Project to increase the production of rural doctors (CPIRD)
was higher than the target by 29.66 percent for 1999 graduates and by 21.63 percent for 2000 graduates.
6. The retention rate in the Northeast (70%) was higher than the target (60%); 19 years out of 22 years
had higher than quota rate. The three highest retention rates were 1998 graduates (92.45%), 1994 graduates
(92.45%), and 1999 graduates (92.45%) respectively. The three lower rates were 1983 graduates (48.78%),
1982 graduates (51.16%), and 1979 graduates (54.55%) respectively.
Medical graduates from Khon Kaen University were retained in the community. The retention rate
was in line with the intention and philosophy of three medical curricula, which emphasize that medical
doctors should improve the public health of the community, have a positive attitude toward serving and
working with others in the health team. The research findings confirmed the objective of the Faculty of
Medicine, Khon Kaen University.
