BACKGROUND: The role of family medicine specializing in primary care is important. This study examined medical students' perception of family medicine and their career choice, and provides policy and educational implications for family medicine.METHODS: The study used data collected from the 111 medical students from Keimyung University. The questionnaire comprised items pertaining to respondents' demographic information, career plan, and perceptions about family medicine.RESULTS: The most common mode of learning about family medicine was class or clinical practice (68.5%). Further, 73 students (65.8%) reported an intention to select family medicine as their major. These students were most likely to be employed (34 persons). Among the 111 students, 3 (2.8%) choose family medicine as their preferred major. Before receiving clinical practice experience, the most common reason for not choosing family medicine was “does not fit into the reality in Korea” (32.1%). After clinical practice, “lack of professionalism” (44.6%) was the most commonly cited reason.CONCLUSION: Medical students' perception about family medicine was strongly influenced by their experiences during class and clinical practice. Students also reported the need to improve professionalism in family medicine. Building public relations could help improve medical students' awareness about family medicine, and it is also necessary to improve social awareness of family medicine through the support of government such as th family doctor system.
Career Choice ; Humans ; Intention ; Learning ; Primary Health Care ; Professionalism ; Public Relations ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate factors influencing career preparation behavior among male nursing students in South Korea. METHODS: Data were collected from May 25 to June 17, 2018 and a total of 158 male nursing students participated in this study. Career decision making self-efficacy, military duty planning, and career preparation behavior were measured using a structured questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS 25.0 for windows. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in career preparation behavior of participants according to entrance motivation and desired career after graduation. There were statistically significant correlations between career decision making self-efficacy and career preparation behavior (r=.65, p < .001), and between military duty planning and career preparation behavior (r=.45, p < .001). The influential factors for career preparation behavior were career decision making self-efficacy (β=.64, p < .001), and military duty planning (β=.42, p < .001). These factors accounted for 42% of the variance in career preparation behavior. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that to improve career preparation behavior for male nursing students, it is necessary to enhance career decision making self-efficacy and military duty planning.
Career Choice ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Motivation ; Nursing ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to understand the experiences of career exploration among nursing students during their clinical practice and to develop a theoretical framework for the career exploration process. METHODS: From February 2 to 28, 2015, data were collected through focus group interviews from 24 participating fourth-year nursing students. The data were analyzed using grounded theory. RESULTS: The central phenomenon of 'confusion between the ideal and the reality of nursing' occurred in contexts for various reasons of choosing one's major, nurses in the ideal, a vague fear of the field, arduous nursing assignments in the field, and severe adversity in the nursing field. Nursing students tried to deal with their confusion by using interaction strategies such as pursuing the intrinsic value of nursing, finding role models, trying to project oneself, and preparing for adapting to reality. The career exploration process in clinical practice was a voyage to discover the authentic nurse of the pre-registration nurse. CONCLUSION: This result shows that nursing students were to gain confidence in their career choices by finding the value of nursing and interacting with patients. Therefore, opportunities for learning experiences about interaction with patients and various positive experiences in clinical practice should be provided for nursing students.
Career Choice ; Focus Groups ; Grounded Theory ; Humans ; Learning ; Nursing ; Nursing, Practical ; Qualitative Research ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: Students joining medical studies may be motivated by many factors. However, there may also be some factors which may concern them. Although, it can be assumed that those joining medical studies would have largely been influenced positively, how the factors interact in different groups of students has not been studied adequately. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey in first-year medical students. Besides the demographics and intentions about their future career plans, students rated a list of positively influencing items and a list of negatively affecting items relevant to our context that influenced their decision. We performed factor analysis followed by clustering of study participants. RESULTS: Ninety-seven students participated in the survey which comprised of 59% females with mean age of 18.6 years. The factors extracted were named as 'personal growth factor,' 'professional calling factor,' 'personal concerns factor,' and 'professional concerns factor.' Four distinct clusters of participants differing in their average ratings to each of the above factors were identified. CONCLUSION: This study provides information on the factors that influence students to join medical studies from an Indian context. The motivational patterns were varied in different sub-groups of students. The data obtained from this study may provide pointers to educators to plan training of students, changes in curricular structure that takes into account the expansion of medical education into specialties and beyond.
Career Choice ; Demography ; Education, Medical ; Female ; Humans ; India ; Intention ; Motivation ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a systematic career-coaching program (SCCP) that can be used by medical teaching schools to address a growing need for career-coaching. The program objectives were to help students (1) develop a comprehensive self-understanding of their aptitudes, interests, and personality traits; (2) explore possible career choices and decide on a career path; and (3) develop the competencies needed to prepare for their future careers. METHODS: The SCCP was based on the ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) model and decision-making questioning model. Medical professionals, medical education and career counseling experts, and students participated in designing the program. RESULTS: The SCCP describes coaching content, tools, operational methods, and appropriate timing, and identifies the professionals and specialists who can offer their expertise in the different coaching phases. It is designed to allow medical schools to offer the program in segments or in its entirety, depending on the curriculum and environment. CONCLUSION: The SCCP represents a viable career-coaching program for medical students that can be applied in part or in its entirety, depending on a medical school’s curriculum and educational environment.
Aptitude ; Career Choice ; Counseling ; Curriculum ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Professionalism ; Schools, Medical ; Specialization ; Students, Medical* ; Vocational Guidance

INTRODUCTION: Medical school fees are rising globally. Student debt and financial background may affect residency choices, but few studies have been conducted in Asia. This study aimed to explore the relationship between financial background, student debt and postgraduate residency choices among medical students in Singapore. METHODS: An anonymised survey of all medical students in Singapore was conducted and had a response rate of 67.9%. RESULTS: 40.5% of our study population would graduate with debt. Medical students with monthly per capita household income < SGD 1,000 were more likely to graduate with debt (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-2.7; p < 0.001) and feel burdened by the cost of medical education (unadjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 2.0-3.9; p < 0.001). Students with monthly per capita household income < SGD 1,000 (unadjusted OR 1.818, 95% CI 1.338-2.470, p < 0.001; adjusted OR 1.692, 95% CI 1.202-2.381, p = 0.003) and those with debt (unadjusted OR 1.623, 95% CI 1.261-2.090, p < 0.001; adjusted OR 1.393, 95% CI 1.048-1.851, p = 0.022) were more likely to rank at least one economic factor as 'very significant' in influencing their postgraduate training choices. CONCLUSION It is concerning that despite financial aid schemes, the cost of medical education remains a burden to students from lower-income households in Singapore. Student debt and financial background may distort postgraduate career choices, creating an undue push towards high-paying specialties.
Career Choice ; Choice Behavior ; Education, Medical ; economics ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; economics ; Odds Ratio ; Schools, Medical ; economics ; Singapore ; Social Class ; Students, Medical ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Training Support

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with new graduate nurses' choices of local hospitals. METHODS: Participants were 526 new graduate nurses from one of five universities located in Busan, Ulsan or Gyeongnam. The new graduates completed a self-report questionnaire survey during February and March, 2016. The questionnaire included questions about choices of local hospitals, satisfaction with nursing major, nursing professionalism and anticipated nursing practice environment. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with the new graduate nurses' choices of local hospitals. RESULTS: Of the participants, 86.3% had their first jobs in their nursing school region (local hospitals). The choice of local hospitals among new graduate nurses was related to region of origin, type of nursing school, grade point average, and anticipated nursing practice environment. CONCLUSION: Local hospitals need to enhance the nurse practice environment and provide institutional benefits to new graduate nurses who choose local hospitals. For quality nursing care, reducing the geographical gap and improving policy is necessary.
Busan ; Career Choice ; Logistic Models ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Professionalism ; Schools, Nursing ; Ulsan

The future of evidence-based dentistry in developing Africa heavily depends on a sustainable establishment of a vibrant dentist-scientist workforce. A dentist scientist is saddled with the responsibility of carrying out robust cutting edge research projects that are inspired by clinical experience. Currently, there are no pipelines in place to systematically train such dentists, neither are there programs in place to allow trained African dentists choose such a career pathway. A dentist-scientist is a person who studied oral, dental, maxillofacial (or craniofacial) diseases, prevention, and population sciences (obtaining a medical degrees such as bachelor of dental surgery [BDS] or BChD) alone; or in combination with other advanced degrees such as doctor of dental surgery (DDS)/doctor of philosophy (PhD) or BDS/PhD. This situation has resulted in overdependence of African clinical practice on research findings from technologically advanced Western countries and a decline in clinical research capacity building. The career path of a dentist-scientist should involve research along the spectrum of basic biomedical sciences, translational, clinical and public health sciences. There are several factors responsible for the ultra-low count of dentist-scientist in the heterogeneous African communities such as: poor biomedical research infrastructure; lack of funding; absence of structured dentist scientist career pathways; lack of personnel, inter alia. Hence, this review hopes to discuss the opportunities of setting up a dentist-scientist training pathway in Africa (as obtains in most developed world settings), identify opportunities and prospects of developing an African dentist-scientist workforce, and finally discuss the challenges involved.
Africa* ; Capacity Building ; Career Choice ; Dental Research ; Dentistry ; Dentists ; Education, Dental ; Evidence-Based Dentistry ; Financial Management ; Hope ; Humans ; Philosophy ; Public Health

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to implement a systematic career coaching program for medical students and to evaluate its effectiveness. METHODS: First-year medical students of Konyang University College of Medicine took part in the FLEX Mentoring II: Career Coaching Program from September to December in 2016 and 2017. This program included 16 weekly sessions, comprising a total of 32 hours. The students took the Career Readiness Inventory before and after the program, as a pre- and post-test of the program. Data from 100 students were used (46 students in 2016, 54 students in 2017) for the evaluation. RESULTS: Medical students' career readiness pre-test was rated as medium. In particular, many students were at a low level in terms of ‘support from colleagues and peers’ (53.0%), ‘career decision’ (48.0%), and ‘efforts for job preparation’ (60.0%). After 16 sessions of a systematic career coaching program, their career readiness level showed a significant increase except for ‘career decision’ (t=4.242, P=0.001) and ‘independence’ (t=0.731, P=0.466), a sub-factor of ‘career maturity.’ CONCLUSION: The career readiness level of medical students was not sufficiently high. However, a semester of educational training in a systematic career coaching program helped the students to be better prepared for their career. In particular, the significant reduction in the ‘career decision’ variable after the program can be interpreted as indicating that the students changed their behavior to explore and approach their career more seriously and carefully, which also underscores the need for the implementation of career coaching programs in medical schools.
Career Choice ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Korea ; Mentors ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical

Background: Maldistribution and dearth of primary care practitioners is a continuing health human resource problem of many countries particularly in developing countries like the Philippines. The call to strengthen primary care for better health outcomes is a battle-cry that has never been resolved due to lack of physicians, trained and untrained, serving the rural areas. Family physicians are primarily the workforce in primary care settings but few medical graduates pursue this kind of career track. This study aimed to describe the career choices of medical students and factors that influenced them including their perspectives of family medicine as career choice. Methods: On-line survey using google form was used to reach a total of 1800 medical students from 41 medical schools across the country in November 2016. Purposive sampling was done to allocate at least 40 students per school coordinated through the APMC Student Network representatives. They were sent with a link of the pre-validated questionnaire on career choices after medical school and reasons influencing their career choices based from prior studies. Results: Of the 1,800 students, 1010 (81%) completed the questionnaire. Majority opted residency training (92%) after graduation and few pursue rural health practice (14%). Family medicine ranked 10th as first choice for training with IM and surgery consistently the top choices regardless if it is the first, second or third choice. Family medical needs influenced these choices. Family medicine was considered by majority as the primary care providers (94.1%) but lack of emphasis on it in their curriculum was experienced by most. Conclusion Most of the medical students want to pursue residency training in internal medicine and surgery while few in family medicine. Their choice of training is influenced by medical needs of the family. Family medicine as primary care provider was recognized but most experienced of lack emphasis in their medical curriculum.
Career Choice ; Primary Health Care