Comparison of Students' Characteristics and Perceptions Before and After Introduction Into Graduate Medical School System

Abstract

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the characteristics and perceptions of medical school students and professional graduate medical school students. Methods: Study subjects were 131 medical students from a national university and 113 appli- cants of a professional graduate medical school. We developed a self-reported questionnaire ask- ing about socio-demographic characteristics; the level of satisfaction of educational environment; perception of missions of medical education and career plan and student activities during school. Results: Students from the professional graduate medical school were significantly different from medical students in socio-demographic characteristics. They also showed higher satisfaction with their education, were more supportive of student union activities and were more anxious about economic and health problems than medical students. However, there was no difference between the two groups regarding perception of missions of medical education and career plan after graduation. Conclusion: Based on the above results, it is necessary to consider the characteristics and per- ceptions of professional graduate medical students when developing educational policies for these older students. The limitation of this study includes a restricted sample, and generalization of re- sults should be done carefully. Thus, more extensive, wide-ranging studies would be useful.