Abstract
BackgroundFew studies have systematically explored factors affecting medical students’ general practice career choice. We conducted a nationwide multicenter survey (Japan MEdical Career of Students: JMECS) to examine factors associated with students’ general practice career aspirations in Japan, where it has been decided that general practice will be officially acknowledged as a new discipline.MethodsFrom April to December 2015, we distributed a 21-item questionnaire to final year medical students in 17 medical schools. The survey asked students about their top three career preferences from 19 specialty fields, their demographics and their career priorities. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the effect of each item.ResultsA total of 1264 responses were included in the analyses. The top three specialty choice were internal medicine: 833 (65.9%), general practice: 408 (32.3%), and pediatrics: 372 (29.4%). Among demographic factors, “plan to inherit other’s practice” positively associated with choosing general practice, whereas “having physician parent” had negative correlation. After controlling for potential confounders, students who ranked the following items as highly important were more likely to choose general practice: “clinical diagnostic reasoning (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.65, 95% CI 1.40–1.94)”, “community-oriented practice (aOR: 1.33, 95% CI 1.13–1.57)”, and” involvement in preventive medicine (aOR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.01–1.38)”. On the contrary, “acute care rather than chronic care”, “mastering advanced procedures”, and “depth rather than breadth of practice” were less likely to be associated with general practice aspiration.ConclusionsOur nationwide multicenter survey found several features associated with general practice career aspirations: clinical diagnostic reasoning; community-oriented practice; and preventive medicine. These results can be fundamental to future research and the development of recruitment strategies.
Highlights
Few studies have systematically explored factors affecting medical students’ general practice career choice
Based on such historical context, it is anticipated that the number of applicants for general practice will increase among medical students and interns
The purpose of this study was to conduct a nationwide multicenter survey (Japan MEdical Career of Students: JMECS) to examine factors associated with general practice career aspirations among Japanese medical students
Summary
Few studies have systematically explored factors affecting medical students’ general practice career choice. Starting in 2018, a new board certificate system for physicians’ specialties by a thirdparty organization will be implemented. Along with this reform, it has been decided that general practice, Ie et al Asia Pac Fam Med (2018) 17:2 including family medicine, will be officially acknowledged as a new basic discipline. It has been decided that general practice, Ie et al Asia Pac Fam Med (2018) 17:2 including family medicine, will be officially acknowledged as a new basic discipline Based on such historical context, it is anticipated that the number of applicants for general practice will increase among medical students and interns
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