Nascent Entrepreneurial Behaviour Among Medical Students in Malaysia: The Role of Sociodemographic Factors

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a viable option for young doctors looking for careers beyond patient care. Nascent entrepreneurial behaviour is said to predict future entrepreneurship. To understand whether medical students possess an entrepreneurial spirit, this research aimed to assess nascent entrepreneurial behaviour among students at a private medical school in Malaysia and the sociodemographic factors influencing it. A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional survey design was employed. The data were collected from 318 medical students selected by a disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. The respondents rated their nascent entrepreneurial behaviour on a 13-item selfadministered questionnaire. The responses obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Medical students in Malaysia showed moderately low levels of nascent entrepreneurial behaviour. Among the sociodemographic factors, gender and marital status significantly influenced nascent entrepreneurial behaviour among the medical students. The year of study, ethnicity and family income were insignificant. The low level of nascent entrepreneurial behaviour among medical students in Malaysia implies that they are likelier to be job seekers than job creators. Therefore, higher education institutions across the globe need to foster entrepreneurial values in all students, irrespective of their chosen field of study. An understanding of the sociodemographic factors that influence nascent entrepreneurial behaviour will help policymakers plan remedial steps to inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset among medical students.