Admission Factors Predicting Family Medicine Specialty Choice: A Literature Review and Exploratory Study Among Students in the Rural Medical Scholars Program

Avery, Daniel; Wheat, John R.; Leeper, James D.; McKnight, Jerry T.; Ballard, Brent G.; Jia, Chen

doi:10.1111/j.1748-0361.2011.00382.x

Cited by 19 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The medical school ethos and curriculum are another variables that seem to affect future career plans connected with specialty choices (Avery et al 2012 ). The curricula in Polish medical universities are mostly traditional ones, based on lectures, seminars and laboratories ending with examinations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motivation towards medical career choice and future career plans of Polish medical students

Gąsiorowski

Rudowicz²,

Safranow

2014

Adv in Health Sci Educ

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This longitudinal study aimed at investigating Polish medical students’ career choice motivation, factors influencing specialty choices, professional plans and expectations. The same cohort of students responded to the same questionnaire, at the end of Year 1 and Year 6. The Chi-square, Mann–Whitney U tests and logistic regression were used in analyses. The results showed that altruistic and scientific reasons were the main motives for choosing a medical career. The motives remained stable over time. The effect of gender on altruistic motivation was stronger at the end of the study, with females’ rating higher. The most favored career paths were associated with non-primary care specializations and work in a hospital. Results of the multivariate logistic regression showed that primary care specializations were more attractive to females, final year students, those from small agglomerations, and those less concerned about high earnings. Preferences regarding sector of work were formed at later stages of training. A preference shift was observed, between Year 1 and Year 6, towards favoring work in the public sector. Predictors of the desire to work in the public sector were: being a male and the final year student, paying less attention to high earnings, wanting certainty of finding work, having a stronger need for interesting and socially important work. A significant decline in the level of interest in seeking employment abroad was observed with the progress of studies. Our findings are likely to provide useful information for educators, policy planners and policy makers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motivation towards medical career choice and future career plans of Polish medical students

Gąsiorowski

Rudowicz²,

Safranow

2014

Adv in Health Sci Educ

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“…Self-identity including socioeconomic and geographic background of the physician was one of the driving forces identified together with a sense of responsibility and commitment to the community as well as the opportunity for personal development. Community influence with a strong attachment to original home community has also been invoked as a determinant of graduates ultimately practicing in an underserved community [10]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of medical student origins on the likelihood of ultimately practicing in areas of low vs high socio-economic status

2017

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IntroductionMedical schools are in general over-represented by students from high socio-economic status backgrounds. The University of Western Australia Medical School has been progressively widening the participation of students from a broader spectrum of the community both through expanded selection criteria and quota-based approaches for students of rural, indigenous and other socio-educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. We proposed that medical students entering medical school from such backgrounds would ultimately be more likely to practice in areas of increased socio-economic disadvantage.MethodsThe current practice address of 2829 medical students who commenced practice from 1980 to 2011 was ascertained from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Database. Logistic regression was utilised to determine the predictors of the likelihood of the current practice address being in the lower 8 socio-economic deciles versus the top 2 socio-economic deciles.ResultsThose who were categorised in the lower 8 socio-economic deciles at entry to medical school had increased odds of a current practice address in the lower 8 socio-economic deciles 5 or more years after graduation (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.72, 2.45, P < 0.001). Other positive univariate predictors included age at medical degree completion (for those 25 years or older vs those 24 years or younger OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.27, 1.84, P < 0.001), being female (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.07, 1.48, P = 0.005) and having a general practice versus specialist qualification (OR 4.16, 95% CI 3.33, 5.19, P < 0.001). Negative predictors included having attended an independent school vs a government school (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64, 0.92, P < 0.001) or being originally from overseas vs being born in Oceania (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.67, 0.96, P = 0.017). After adjustment for potential confounders in multivariate logistic regression, those in the lower 8 socio-economic deciles at entry to medical school still had increased odds of having a current practice address in the lower 8 socio-economic deciles (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.34, 1.99, P < 0.001).ConclusionWidening participation in medical school to students from more diverse socio-educational backgrounds is likely to increase the distribution of the medical workforce to ultimate service across areas representative of a broader socio-economic spectrum.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12909-016-0842-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Previous studies have shown that factors associated with choosing GM/FM as a career are older age ( 7 , 8 ), gender (being a female) ( 9 ), being married ( 7 ), rural background (e.g., rural origin and rural high school graduation) ( 7 , 10 ), parents’ socioeconomic status ( 7 ), lifestyle considerations ( 11 , 12 ), working hours ( 13 , 14 ), low-income expectations ( 7 , 15 – 17 ), lower prestige ( 7 , 15 – 17 ), lower job-related ambition ( 15 ), intent for rural practice ( 7 ), longitudinal and close relationship with patients ( 9 , 11 , 12 , 16 , 17 ), no plan for a career in research ( 7 , 17 ), presence of a FM role model ( 7 , 16 , 18 ), and social need ( 16 ). More students might consider careers in primary care if they were exposed to more experiences in primary care ( 5 , 9 , 16 , 19 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with the choice of general medicine as a career among Japanese medical students

Kawamoto

Ninomiya

Kasai

et al. 2016

Medical Education Online

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BackgroundIn Japan, there is a shortage of young physicians in various specialties; the present situation of general medicine or family medicine (GM/FM) in particular is risky. The factors influencing the career choice of Japanese medical students are poorly understood. This study aims to identify factors related to choosing GM/FM as a career.MethodsThe study was designed as a cross-sectional survey. Students at one medical school in Japan filled out a questionnaire. Students were asked to state their intended medical specialty, and they rated the importance of specific individual and occupational aspects using a 4-point likert scale. Factor analysis was performed on the variables. Reliability of the factor scores was estimated using Cronbach‘s alpha coefficients; biserial correlations between the factors and career choices were calculated. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis was performed using career choice (GM/FM vs. others) as the criterion variable and the factors plus demographic characteristics as confounding variables.ResultsFactor analysis produced six factors that explained future career plans. Medical students in this study had a positive and realistic idea about GM/FM, but only 18.8% of them chose GM/FM first as a career. The significant variables associated with choosing GM/FM first as a career were: ‘Admission from hometown’ (β=0.189, P=0.001), ‘Student preparing for the entrance exam’ (β=0.172; P=0.001), ‘Intent for rural practice’ (β=0.123, P=0.016), and ‘Work–life balance’ (β=0.126, P=0.013). While significant variables that were negatively associated with choosing GM/FM were ‘Presence of medical relatives’ (β=−0.107, P=0.037) and ‘Scientific orientation’ (β=−0.125, P=0.013).ConclusionsStrategies have been suggested, such as recruiting medical students with significant variables that were associated with choosing GM/FM first as a career. By engaging students early in their choice of career, we may be able to increase enthusiasm for this specialty.

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Admission Factors Predicting Family Medicine Specialty Choice: A Literature Review and Exploratory Study Among Students in the Rural Medical Scholars Program

Cited by 19 publications

References 25 publications

Motivation towards medical career choice and future career plans of Polish medical students

Motivation towards medical career choice and future career plans of Polish medical students

Impact of medical student origins on the likelihood of ultimately practicing in areas of low vs high socio-economic status

Factors associated with the choice of general medicine as a career among Japanese medical students

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