Factors Related to the Choice of Family Medicine: A Reassessment and Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Recent decreases in the number of students entering family medicine has prompted reconsideration of what is known about the factors affecting specialty choice.Methods: Thirty-six articles on family medicine specialty choice published since 1993 were reviewed and rated for quality.Results: Rural background related positively and parents' socioeconomic status relates negatively to choice of family medicine. Career intentions at entry to medical school predict specialty choice. Students who believe primary care is important, have low income expectations, and do not plan a research career are more likely to choose family medicine. The school characteristic related to choice of family medicine is public ownership. Large programs to increase numbers entering primary care seem effective. Required family medicine time in clinical years is related to higher numbers selecting family medicine.

Primary Care Careers Among Recent Graduates of Research-Intensive Private and Public Medical Schools

“…Demographic factors that have been associated with selection of a primary care career include female gender, lower socioeconomic status, older age, Latino ethnicity, rural background, nontraditional backgrounds, and plans for a primary care career at matriculation. 8,9 However, with schools rather than individual students as the unit of analysis, our study did not find that the proportion of under-represented minority students was associated with primary care career choices.…”

Impact of Interventions to Increase the Proportion of Medical Students Choosing a Primary Care Career: A Systematic Review

“…Three other literature reviews have examined primary care specialty choice and have reached similar conclusions (Appendix 1), [11][12][13] but were also limited to North American studies. Since Bland and colleagues' comprehensive review, medical schools around the world have developed new initiatives in recognition of the need to increase students' exposure to primary care.…”

A opção pela medicina e os planos em relação ao futuro profissional de estudantes de uma faculdade pública Brasileira

“…Do mesmo modo, a escolha da especialidade médica tem sido objeto de estudo, chamando a atenção o fato de ser feita muito precocemente, ainda no início do curso. A pouca motivação para o exercício da medicina geral, da medicina de família e para as especialidades consideradas de atenção bási-ca tem preocupado gestores em todo o mundo [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . Em estudo realizado em 2006 na Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG com 738 estudantes de vários períodos do curso, apenas 15,4% gostariam de seguir carreiras relacionadas com a atenção básica, tendo se considerado nesta categoria a clínica médica, a pediatria e o médico generalista.…”