First-year orientation activities for students in School of preventive medicine and public health- Hanoi Medical University in 2022

Abstract

Objective: The orientation activity at the beginning of the school year is one of the important sessions for medical students, especially first-year students. Well-oriented medical students will contribute to training appropriate future medical human resources, especially in preventive medicine and public health with the motto that prevention is better than cure. To describe career orientation and feedback on the first-year orientation activities of medical students at the School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health in 2022. Methods: A mix-method of quantitative and qualitative was conducted. We carried out quantitative interviews through self-completed questionnaires on 181 first-year students with three majors: Preventive Medicine Doctor, Bachelor of Public Health, and Bachelor of Nutrition. In addition, qualitative research was conducted through 3 focus group discussions on the above 3 majors. Results: Orientation information came mainly from parents, and family members (55.2%) and from social networks (56.9%). Students generally had an understanding of their major with 22.7% of students was full understanding and 74% of those was partial understanding. Out of 79.6% of students were satisfied with their major and the reason for choosing the major showed were their performance capacity (46.5%) and their favourite (44.2%). Out of 53% of students rated as satisfied and 12.2% rated as very satisfied with the contents of the first-year orientation activities. Conclusions: Students responded well to the orientation activities at the beginning of the year. Besides, further suggestions that it is necessary to have information shared by former graduates about job opportunities to access the realistic information and current sittuation. Key word: Orientation activities, first-year students, preventive medicine, public health