eISSN: 2449-8580
ISSN: 1734-3402
Family Medicine & Primary Care Review
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1/2022
vol. 24
 
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abstract:
Original paper

Factors influencing medical students’ choice of family medicine

Tengiz Verulava
1, 2

1.
School of Medicine and Healthcare Management, Caucasus University, Tbilisi, Georgia
2.
School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
Family Medicine & Primary Care Review 2022; 24(1): 66–70
Online publish date: 2022/03/27
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Background
In Georgia, like in many countries, the specialisation of family medicine suffers from a lack of interest, which has a negative impact on the number of properly qualified family doctors.

Objectives
The aim of the research is to assess the attitudes of medical students towards the profession of a family doctor and to observe the reason for choosing this field of work.

Material and methods
A quantitative approach using a cross-sectional survey was carried out. 408 out of 500 medical students from the two major Georgian universities were surveyed.

Results
Only a small percentage of students (2.9%; n = 12) expressed interest in the profession of a family doctor, and the absolute majority of them were female. Students’ choice of family medicine is related to the following factors: a duration of residency (n = 12; 100%), the ability to form long-term relationships with patients (n = 10; 83%), the influence of family or community (n = 8; 67%), the ability to solve multiple medical problems (n = 11; 92%), the simplicity of medical practice (n = 10; 83%), the opportunity to find a job (n = 10; 83%), the advantage of working in rural areas (n = 8; 67%) and the ability to balance career and personal life (n = 10; 83%).

Conclusions
The decision to become a family doctor is influenced by numerous factors. The profession of a family doctor is less popular in Georgia, which is mainly caused by society’s stereotypical attitudes. To popularise the profession of a family doctor, it is necessary to introduce effective methods of its financing and to develop a flexible model of family medicine residency education, which would be based on the improvement of a continuous, professional practice.

keywords:

family medicine, medical education, medical students, career choice

 
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