Article
Curricula influence on career choice? – a qualitative approach
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Published: | May 5, 2009 |
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Outline
Abstract
Background: Germany faces a lack of physicians. During the last ten years less and less medical students choose a career as a physician, especially in primary care. Our qualitative approach was to analyse possible reasons in undergraduate general practice curriculum.
Methods: We conducted five focus groups with students (N=21). We built focus groups consisting of first, third and fifth year students. All data were audio-recorded and transcribed and finally analysed by grounded theory and content analyses.
Results: Analyses of data shows that fifth year students have a more positive attitude towards general practice than first and third year students. This is clearly due to the contact students have with undergraduate general practice curriculum during their studies.
Conclusion: There seems to be a link between undergraduate general practice curriculum and positive attitude towards general practice. We recommend early and repetitive contact with general practice curriculum in medical education, and thereby a higher proportion in medical curricula.