Journal article
Assessing factors for choosing a primary care specialty in medical students; A longitudinal study
Medical education online, Vol.26(1), pp.1890901-1890901
01/01/2021
DOI: 10.1080/10872981.2021.1890901
PMCID: PMC8043606
PMID: 33829968
Abstract
A shortage of primary care physicians exists in the US, and medical schools are investigating factors that influence specialty choice. To better understand the factors associated with medical students choosing primary care specialties, a longitudinal annual survey from 2013 to 2019 was administered to students at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, starting pre-matriculation. A logistic regression model examined factors of interest. Matching into a primary care specialty (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics) for residency was the primary outcome. Our study compared factors students reported in annual surveys: demographics, mentorship, debt, and lifestyle. Factors significantly associated with primary care specialty included pre-medical and medical school research, a family member in primary care, student age and gender. 28% of men chose primary care, and 47% of women. Although there was no gender difference in rates of medical education debt (N = 286,χ2(1) = 0.28, p = 0.60), men were more likely to report being influenced by debt (N = 278, χ2(1) = 10.88, p = 0.001), and students who reported debt-influenced specialty choice were one-third as likely to enter primary care (N = 189, 95% CI [0.11-1.06], p = 0.06). For men, potential salary was negatively associated with entering primary care (p = 0.03). Women were more likely to have a mentor in primary care (N = 374, χ2(1) = 13.87, p < 0.001), but this was not associated with an increased likelihood of entering primary care for men or women. Having a family member who practices primary care was associated with a 2.87 times likelihood of entering primary care (N = 303, 95% CI [1.14-7.19], p = 0.03). The decision to enter primary care is influenced by many factors; a key gender differentiator is that men's specialty choice is more negatively influenced by financial concerns.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Assessing factors for choosing a primary care specialty in medical students; A longitudinal study
- Creators
- Corry McDonald - Lincoln Medical CenterAustin Henderson - Washington State UniversityPatrick Barlow - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicineJerrod Keith - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Medical education online, Vol.26(1), pp.1890901-1890901
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- DOI
- 10.1080/10872981.2021.1890901
- PMID
- 33829968
- PMCID
- PMC8043606
- ISSN
- 1087-2981
- eISSN
- 1087-2981
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- ICTS; Surgery; Center for Social Science Innovation; Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education; General Internal Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984322796502771
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