Dataset Information

Medical students' perceptions and attitudes about family practice: a qualitative research synthesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During the last decade medical students from most Western countries have shown little interest in family practice. Understanding the factors that influence medical students to choose family medicine is crucial.

Objective

To systematically review and synthesize published evidence about medical students' attitudes and perceptions towards family practice.

Methods

A qualitative systematic review. The literature search was undertaken in July 2010 in PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Social Science Citation Index (SSCI), and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Two authors independently selected the studies for their inclusion and assessed their quality. The selected studies were thoroughly read. Key themes and categories were identified. A matrix was created for allowing the comparison of each theme across studies.

Results

Ten studies were finally included. Seven broad themes were identified across them: 1) Scope and context of practice was a broad theme comprising linked sub-themes: perception of a varied specialty, broad practice, holistic perspective and flexibility that allows having a family; 2) Lower interest or intellectually less challenging: treating common disease, repetitive, quasi administrative job; 3) Influence of role models, either positive and negative, and society: negative comments from other professionals, peers and family; 4) Lower prestige; 5) Poor remuneration; 6) Medical school influences, being important both the length and quality of the exposure; 7) Post graduate training, where the shorter duration and the lower intensity were perceived as positive aspects. After identifying these seven key themes, were also looked into patterns in the distribution of these themes among studies.

Conclusions

Our qualitative review provides a comprehensive picture of medical students' attitudes towards family practice in the available literature. In general, although some students find family medicine appealing, it is regarded as a career of low interest and prestige. More research is needed on the influence of role models, medical school and post graduate training.

SUBMITTER: Selva Olid A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3546071 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Medical students' perceptions and attitudes about family practice: a qualitative research synthesis.

Selva Olid Anna A Zurro Amando Martín AM Villa Josep Jiménez JJ Hijar Antonio Monreal AM Tuduri Xavier Mundet XM Puime Angel Otero AO Dalmau Gemma Mas GM Coello Pablo Alonso- PA

BMC medical education 20120821

<h4>Background</h4>During the last decade medical students from most Western countries have shown little interest in family practice. Understanding the factors that influence medical students to choose family medicine is crucial.<h4>Objective</h4>To systematically review and synthesize published evidence about medical students' attitudes and perceptions towards family practice.<h4>Methods</h4>A qualitative systematic review. The literature search was undertaken in July 2010 in PubMed, EMBASE, Cu ...[more]

PMID: 22909189

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Project description:OBJECTIVES: To (1) investigate the relationships between students' characteristics and their (a) perceptions of research in general and (b) attitudes towards pharmacy practice research; (2) identify strategies that could be used by pharmacy educators to promote research interest in pharmacy practice; and (3) identify perceived barriers to the pursuit or completion of a pharmacy practice research degree. METHODS: A survey was administered to all students enrolled in each year of the four-year pharmacy undergraduate program, University of Sydney, Australia. Perceptions of research in general were measured using 4 items on a five-point semantic-differential scale and attitudes towards pharmacy practice research were measured using 16 items on a five-point Likert scale. Student characteristics were also collected as were responses to open-ended questions which were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: In total 853 students participated and completed the survey (83% response rate). Participants' characteristics were associated with some but not all aspects of research and pharmacy practice research. It appeared that positive attitudes and perspectives were influenced strongly by exposure to the 'research' process through projects, friends or mentors, previous degrees or having future intentions to pursue a research degree. Results from both the quantitative and qualitative analyses suggest positive attitudes and perceptions of research can be nurtured through the formal inclusion in research processes, particularly the utility of practice research in clinical practice across the four years of study. Participants indicated there was a lack of awareness of the needs, benefits and career opportunities associated with pharmacy practice research and voiced clear impediments in their career path with respect to the choice of practice research-related careers. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should investigate changes in perceptions and attitudes in a single cohort over the four-year degree, other factors influencing students' perceptions and attitudes, and evaluate the effectiveness of research promoting strategies and programs.

Dataset Information

Medical students' perceptions and attitudes about family practice: a qualitative research synthesis.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Medical students' perceptions and attitudes about family practice: a qualitative research synthesis.

Similar Datasets

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