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Motivation for and concerns about entering a medical programme.
A Ricketts Wierenga1, J M Branday, D T Simeon
1Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica. andrea.wierenga@earthlink.net
The West Indian Medical Journal
|March 26, 2004
Summary
Medical students at The University of the West Indies (UWI) are motivated by helping people and interest in biology. Their main concerns include fear of failure and contracting diseases, with surgical specialties being a top career choice.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Student Motivation
- Caribbean Health Workforce
Background:
- Understanding medical student motivations and concerns is crucial for effective training.
- The University of the West Indies (UWI) trains future physicians for the Caribbean region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the motivations, concerns, and career aspirations of first-year medical students at UWI.
- To identify factors influencing students' choices in medical specialties.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Year 1 medical students at UWI's Mona and St Augustine campuses.
- Data collected via self-administered questionnaires on demographics, motivations, concerns, and career preferences.
- 193 students participated, achieving an 88% response rate.
Main Results:
- Top motives included 'opportunity for working with people' and 'interest in human biology'.
- Females prioritized 'working with people'; males valued 'social prestige/status'.
- Primary concerns were 'fear of failure' and 'contracting diseases'; females worried more about long training hours.
Conclusions:
- Students exhibit diverse, often desirable, motivations for pursuing medicine.
- Surgical specialties, family medicine, and pediatrics are favored career paths.
- Addressing student concerns and maintaining positive motivations can foster empathetic Caribbean physicians.