Preliminary study of the relationship between career choice motivation and understanding of professionalism in newly enrolled medical students in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesEarly professionalism education for first-year students is important for generating sound knowledge and attitudes towards medical professionalism. Of the many factors affecting professionalism and professional identity formation in medical students, career choice motivation is an understudied one. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the career choice motivations of first-year medical students and their understanding of professionalism.Settings and participantsA cross-sectional survey of 940 first-year clinical medicine students was conducted at China Medical University in September 2017 to explore students’ motivation to study medicine and its relationship with students’ understanding of professionalism. Demographics, career choice motivation and professionalism were obtained through paper questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association between career choice motivation and understanding of professionalism while controlling for potential demographic confounders.ResultsThe most common career choice motivations for first-year medical students (N=843) were interested in the health sciences, income and social status and advocating altruism. The most mentioned subdimensions of professionalism were accountability, pursuit of excellence and compassion. There were significant differences in the understanding of professionalism among students with different career choice motivations.ConclusionFirst-year medical students with different motivations to study medicine also have different understandings of professionalism. Medical educators can explore motivations to learning medicine as a new entry point to providing professionalism education for newly enrolled medical students.

Motivational Essay - A Useful Tool in Career Choice?

“…al, 2020, p. 3) which justifies the studies on this topic (Albion & Fogarty, 2002;Batool & Ghayas, 2020;Sandelands, et al, 2020) for both the high school and university counsellors. The research on the factors determining the career choice and the tools which can help in this respect are very useful, and is usually done in high school education (to establish a choice) and in the first year of university studies, in order to validate the choice (Cui et al, 2021).…”

Calling situated: a survey among medical students supplemented by a qualitative study and a comparison with a surveyed sample of physicians

“…This pyramid consists of a first level of basic needs, such as eating or sleeping (i), on which follows a need for security, stability and protection (ii), being part of a community or to have a family (iii), and a fourth level with two segments: respect and prestige (a) and trust in oneself and personal development (b). In high-income countries [4][5][6][7][8][9], the principal motivations for studying medicine are an interest for science/medicine, social and professional independence, and the anticipated variety of the work as physician. In countries with moderate incomes, social factors, such as influence from the family and expectations with regard to the social status, as well as scientific interest determine study choice [3].…”

Millennials Medical Students Generation at the Crosswalks: Motivations and Attitudes Towards Study and Future Career – A Mixed-Method Study

“…[1][2][3] Besides humanistic reasoning and empathy, motivation is a determining factor to affect these professional skills, once it guides and sustains such goal-oriented activities. 4,5 The Self-Determination Theory, distinguishes between the intrinsic motivation, when activities are based on genuine interest, and controlled motivation, when external factors are the main driving motivational force. 6 Intrinsic motivated students have more deep study strategy, more self-study hours, better academic performance and lower exhaustion from studies.…”