Factors influencing the career preferences of medical students and interns: a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey from India

Ruban Anand

61 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions

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Diversity and Career in Medicine Innovations in Medical Education Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout

Abstract

PURPOSE: The study aimed to identify the motivational factors and demographic variables influencing the career preferences of medical students in India. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey at Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. The participants were 368 of the 460 medical students and interns enrolled at the institution from October 2015 to August 2016. We designed the questionnaire to collect demographic data, students' preferences for career specialties, and the motivational factors influencing them. Then, we analyzed the influence of these factors and demographic variables on career preferences using regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 368 respondents, 356 (96.7%) expressed their intention to pursue a residency program after the MBBS program, and about two-thirds indicated their preference to do so in India. The specialties most preferred by students were general surgery, general medicine (internal medicine), and pediatrics, while the least preferred were anatomy, obstetrics and gynecology, and community medicine. Factor analysis yielded three motivational factors, which we named 'personal growth,' 'professional growth,' and 'personal satisfaction' based on the items loaded in each. The motivational factors were predicted by demographic variables (gender, geographical background, current stage in the MBBS program, and the presence of relatives in the health professions). Demographic variables and the motivational factors also had significant influences on career preferences. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into the motivational factors that influence the career preferences of Indian medical students and interns. A robust longitudinal study would be required to study intra-individual variations in preferences and the persistence of choices.

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2014Developing questionnaires for educational research: AMEE Guide No. 87 2010Career choices of medical students: a national survey of 1780 students 2015Dynamics of career choice among students in undergraduate medical courses. A BEME systematic review: BEME Guide No. 33 2014A survey of factors influencing career preference in new-entrant and exiting medical students from four UK medical schools 2002Gender similarities in doctors’ preferences — and gender differences in final specialisation 2013Few gender differences in specialty preferences and motivational factors: a cross-sectional Swedish study on last-year medical students 2012Gender differences in medical students’ motives and career choice 2013What determines the selection of undergraduate medical students to the specialty of their future careers?

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