Attitudes towards career choice and general practice: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in Tyrol, Austria
Abstract Background The global primary healthcare workforce is declining, leading to a shortage of general practitioners. Although various educational models aim to increase interest in general practice, effective interventions are limited. The reasons for this low appeal among medical graduates rem...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05205-8 |
| _version_ | 1797259222493167616 |
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| author | Angelika Mahlknecht Adolf Engl Verena Barbieri Herbert Bachler Alois Obwegeser Giuliano Piccoliori Christian J. Wiedermann |
| author_facet | Angelika Mahlknecht Adolf Engl Verena Barbieri Herbert Bachler Alois Obwegeser Giuliano Piccoliori Christian J. Wiedermann |
| author_sort | Angelika Mahlknecht |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The global primary healthcare workforce is declining, leading to a shortage of general practitioners. Although various educational models aim to increase interest in general practice, effective interventions are limited. The reasons for this low appeal among medical graduates remain unclear. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed medical students’ and residents’ attitudes towards general practice in Tyrol, Austria. The online questionnaire addressed professional values, general practice-related issues, personal professional intentions, and demographics. Data analysis employed chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression to explore predictors of interest in general practice. Results The study included 528 students and 103 residents. Key values identified were stable positions, assured income, and work-family reconciliation. General practice was recognised for long-term patient relationships and patient contact, with students attributing more positive work-environmental characteristics and higher reputation to it than residents. Few participants (students: 3.2%, residents: 11.7%) had opted for general practice; about half were considering it as career option. Reasons not to choose general practice were preferences for other specialties, intrinsic characteristics of general practice, workload, insufficient time for the patients, financial pressures, low reputation, and perceived mediocre training quality. Predictors of interest in general practice included perception of independent decision-making, importance of work-family balance (students), better practical experiences in general practice during medical school (students and residents), younger age, and perceiving general practice as offering a promising future (residents). Both groups felt underprepared by medical school and/or general practice training for general practice roles. The attractiveness of specialist medicine over general practice was related to clearer content boundaries, better career opportunities, and higher incomes. Conclusions According to these results, measures to improve attractiveness of general practice should focus on (i) high-quality undergraduate education including practical experiences, and (ii) on ensuring professional autonomy, work-family reconciliation, and job stability. Efforts to encourage more graduates to pursue this essential healthcare sector are crucial for strengthening primary healthcare and public health services. Trial registration The study has not been registered as it did not include a direct medical intervention on human participants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:06:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b723e7ad5ce430e9bb1042a2348584a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:06:00Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b723e7ad5ce430e9bb1042a2348584a2024-03-17T12:29:31ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202024-03-0124111510.1186/s12909-024-05205-8Attitudes towards career choice and general practice: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in Tyrol, AustriaAngelika Mahlknecht0Adolf Engl1Verena Barbieri2Herbert Bachler3Alois Obwegeser4Giuliano Piccoliori5Christian J. Wiedermann6Institute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Health Care ProfessionsInstitute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Health Care ProfessionsInstitute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Health Care ProfessionsInstitute of General Practice, Medical University InnsbruckDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of InnsbruckInstitute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Health Care ProfessionsInstitute of General Practice and Public Health, College of Health Care ProfessionsAbstract Background The global primary healthcare workforce is declining, leading to a shortage of general practitioners. Although various educational models aim to increase interest in general practice, effective interventions are limited. The reasons for this low appeal among medical graduates remain unclear. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed medical students’ and residents’ attitudes towards general practice in Tyrol, Austria. The online questionnaire addressed professional values, general practice-related issues, personal professional intentions, and demographics. Data analysis employed chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression to explore predictors of interest in general practice. Results The study included 528 students and 103 residents. Key values identified were stable positions, assured income, and work-family reconciliation. General practice was recognised for long-term patient relationships and patient contact, with students attributing more positive work-environmental characteristics and higher reputation to it than residents. Few participants (students: 3.2%, residents: 11.7%) had opted for general practice; about half were considering it as career option. Reasons not to choose general practice were preferences for other specialties, intrinsic characteristics of general practice, workload, insufficient time for the patients, financial pressures, low reputation, and perceived mediocre training quality. Predictors of interest in general practice included perception of independent decision-making, importance of work-family balance (students), better practical experiences in general practice during medical school (students and residents), younger age, and perceiving general practice as offering a promising future (residents). Both groups felt underprepared by medical school and/or general practice training for general practice roles. The attractiveness of specialist medicine over general practice was related to clearer content boundaries, better career opportunities, and higher incomes. Conclusions According to these results, measures to improve attractiveness of general practice should focus on (i) high-quality undergraduate education including practical experiences, and (ii) on ensuring professional autonomy, work-family reconciliation, and job stability. Efforts to encourage more graduates to pursue this essential healthcare sector are crucial for strengthening primary healthcare and public health services. Trial registration The study has not been registered as it did not include a direct medical intervention on human participants.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05205-8General practicePrimary health careCareer choiceGraduate medical educationUndergraduate medical educationCurriculum |
| spellingShingle | Angelika Mahlknecht Adolf Engl Verena Barbieri Herbert Bachler Alois Obwegeser Giuliano Piccoliori Christian J. Wiedermann Attitudes towards career choice and general practice: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in Tyrol, Austria BMC Medical Education General practice Primary health care Career choice Graduate medical education Undergraduate medical education Curriculum |
| title | Attitudes towards career choice and general practice: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in Tyrol, Austria |
| title_full | Attitudes towards career choice and general practice: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in Tyrol, Austria |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes towards career choice and general practice: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in Tyrol, Austria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes towards career choice and general practice: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in Tyrol, Austria |
| title_short | Attitudes towards career choice and general practice: a cross-sectional survey of medical students and residents in Tyrol, Austria |
| title_sort | attitudes towards career choice and general practice a cross sectional survey of medical students and residents in tyrol austria |
| topic | General practice Primary health care Career choice Graduate medical education Undergraduate medical education Curriculum |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05205-8 |
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