Factors that influence first year medical students’ choice of student selected component

Abstract

Background: Undergraduate medical training should ensure students have choice and autonomy in the learning process, including the student selected components (SSCs) which should comprise up to about a third of the curriculum. Students' choices of SSC will influence the knowledge, skills and attitudes they acquire. Aim: To investigate how motivations and personality in first year medical students influence their choice of SSCs. Method: A questionnaire regarding motivations for SSC choice and the NEO-FFI personality measure was administered to all first year students at a London medical school. Relationships with type of SSC were examined. Results: A total of 82% (268/329) students responded. Six motivational factors arose from a principle components analysis of the questionnaire: future achievements, prior information, internal motivation, personal recommendation, convenience and certainty. Students with different motivational factors chose different SSCs, and had different personality traits. Weak but significant correlations were found between personality traits and motivational factors, but not between personality and SSC choice, or sex and SSC choice. Conclusions: This offers insight into medical student choices of SSC and is the first step towards ensuring appropriate provision of modules that students wish to study to enable them to meet the demands of the medical profession.

Selection of student-selected component [SSCs] modules across the medical undergraduate curriculum: Relationship with motivational factors

“…These data are partially in agreement with previously published data regarding the relationship between motivation and SSC selection in first year undergraduate students. In the study by Richardson (2009), students motivated by future achievements, thematically comparable to the 'career strategy' category in this study, were more likely to select SSCs which promoted what they term 'generic skills'this category included research project experience, as well as teaching and learning in medicine. This study raises questions concerning the nature of the strong association between research and self-directed learning and a prominent career-focused motivation profile.…”

“…Specifically, we need to know whether students are strategic in their selections or whether they are guided by short-term and less challenging criteria (Babad & Tayeb 2008). A recent questionnaire-based analysis of motivational factors contributing to selection of SSC modules by first year undergraduates at a London medical school demonstrated that SSC selections were stratified across the following identified motivational factors: future achievements, prior information, internal motivation, personal recommendation, convenience and certainty (Richardson 2009). However, it is recognised that students also select different SSCs across the curriculum depending on evolving skills, knowledge, motivations, as well as awareness of future career possibilities.…”

“…Riley (2009) has pointed out that the experiences of the Scottish medical schools are that most students are stratified according to underlying, as yet Research and self-directed learning Library project in medicine 1, 2, 3, GEM Student-directed special study module 1, 2, 3, GEM Medical research project 1, 2, 3, GEM Social research and survey methods 2 unspecified, motivational factors. In order to both assist us in designing SSC programmes and fully appreciate the relationship between knowledge and skills acquired during their undergraduate degree and subsequent career choice, it is important that individual motivational factors contributing to SSC selection are considered (Richardson 2009). Specifically, we need to know whether students are strategic in their selections or whether they are guided by short-term and less challenging criteria (Babad & Tayeb 2008).…”

Qui sont les étudiants de première année en sciences de la santé ? Leurs représentations et motivations à l’égard des études et des métiers

“…Plusieurs auteurs se sont déjà focalisés sur les choix et la motivation des étudiants en formation dans le domaine de la santé (e.g. Beaulieu, Haggerty, Bouharaoui, & Goulet, 2010 ;Choucair, Nemr, Sleilaty, & Abboud, 2007 ;Richardson, 2009). Cependant, la majorité de ces études concernaient d'autres choix que le choix initial de s'engager en sciences de la santé.…”

Knowledge and Perception Regarding Clinical Trials Among Dental Students-A Questionnaire Based Study

“…The staff and students are hardly exposed to the concept and modern technologies which can be utilised for a research purpose (Kumar et al, 2009;Packiri, 2017). The postgraduate stu-dents in India undergo both clinical training and research (Richardson, 2009). However undergraduate curriculum does not include the concept of clinical trial.…”