Influencing factors for medical school graduates to choice general practice in Shanghai

Abstract

Objective To investigate the influencing factors and their weights of professional choice among medical school in Shanghai. Methods Base on literature review and interviews with medicine students in a university of Shanghai, a questionnaire of employment intention for general practice in medical graduates was developed. A questionnaire survey on influencing factors of general practice among five year medical students was conducted in the medical college of a university in Shanghai during May to June 2016. The weights of each factor were calculated with analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Results The valid questionnaires were retrieved from 14 male and 26 female students. The results showed that 53.8% (21/40) preferred Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other economically developed cities as future working place, and 38.5% (15/40) chose to go home town; for general practice 22.5% (9/40) chose very , 70% (28/40) chose like and 7.5% (3/40) chose ; only 10% (4/40) were willing to be a general practitioner, 55.0% (22/40) were depended on the working conditions of community health center, and 35% (14/40) were not ready to be a GP. AHP analysis showed that the weights of influencing factors were: the salary (0.380 2), the doctor-patient relationship (0.262 3), professional interest and occupation development prospects (0.220 4), social status and family contribution (0.137 1). Weight analysis for the affecting factors on professional interest and occupation development showed that the guidance of mentors in theoretical study and clinical practice were the major factors (comprehensive weight was 0.067 3 and 0.062 1, respectively), and the attitude GPs to general practice in community learning was more important (comprehensive weight was 0.042 5 and 0.019 6). Conclusion The willingness to be a general practitioner is not strong in the medical school in Shanghai. It is important to improve the status and working conditions of general practitioners, and to strengthen education and guidance of the general practice in theoretical study and clinical practice for medical students. Key words: Career choice; Questionnaires; General practice