Wiener klinische Wochenschrift

, Volume 122, Issue 7–8, pp 243–250 | Cite as

Climate for career choices: survey of medical students' motivation for studying, career preferences and perception of their teachers as role models

  • Ana Pangerčić
  • Dario Sambunjak
  • Darko Hren
  • Matko Marušić
  • Ana Marušić
Original article
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Accepted:

Summary

BACKGROUND: To assess the educational climate at a medical school, we explored students' perception of their motives for study, the importance of students' personal characteristics for success in the study and profession of medicine, students' perceptions of professional and personal characteristics of their teachers, and students' preferences for their future careers in medicine. METHODS: We surveyed all students coming to the administration office to enroll for the following academic year (2nd to 6th year of study, n = 738) at Zagreb University Medical School, Croatia. Responses with answers to all questions (n = 482, 65% response rate) were analyzed. RESULTS: Students from both preclinical and clinical study years perceived their teachers to be formal: strict, authoritative, punctual, well prepared, and respectful of hierarchy. Similar formal characteristics were seen as important for success in their studies and in the medical profession. The strongest motivation for studying among students in all study years was task completion. Most of the students wanted a career in medical practice, with (n = 160, 33.2%) or without (n = 207, 42.9%) involvement in clinical research; a few (n = 3, 0.6%) wanted to do basic biomedical research, and an academic career was sought by 23.5% (n = 112). The choice of academic career was associated with grade point average (odds ratio [OR] = 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10–2.88), higher scores on motivation scales for professional advancement (OR = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.12–2.63) and academic gains (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.17–2.14). CONCLUSION: Medical students perceive formal characteristics and self-interests as dominant aspects of the educational climate at medical school, where they are motivated mostly by task completion. The change towards a climate of social sensitivity and pro-social behavior may require less frontal and more interactive teaching, with personal interaction between students and teachers.

Keywords

Students Medical Career choice Faculty 

Ausbildungsklima an medizinischen Hochschulen: Die Motivation von Medizinstudenten, ihre Karrierevorstellungen und ihre Wahrnehmung der Vorbildwirkung der Lehrenden

Zusammenfassung

HINTERGRUND: Um das Klima der Ausbildung an einer medizinischen Universität zu erfassen, untersuchten wir bei Studenten die Motivation zum Studium, die Bedeutung ihrer persönlichen Charakteristika für den Erfolg in Studium und Beruf, sowie ihre Beurteilung der persönlichen und beruflichen Charakteristika der Lehrer sowie ihre Vorlieben bezüglich der zukünftigen medizinischen Karriere. METHODEN: Es wurden alle Studenten, die sich für ihr folgendes akademische Jahr (1. – 6. Studienjahr, n = 738) an der medizinischen Universität Zagreb, Kroatien, anmeldeten, erfasst. Von diesen antworteten 482 (= 65 % Response Rate) auf alle Fragen. Diese bilden die Grundlage der Studie. ERGEBNISSE: Sowohl die Studenten der Vorklinik als auch die der Klinik empfanden ihre Lehrer als eher formell, autoritär, pünktlich, gut vorbereitet und die Hierarchie respektierend. Ähnliche formale Charakteristika schienen den Studenten für einen Erfolg in ihren Studien und im medizinischen Beruf wichtig. Die stärkste Motivation zum Studium war bei allen Studenten unabhängig vom Studienjahr die Erfüllung der Aufgabe (Abschluss des Studiums). Die meisten Studenten strebten eine Karriere in praktizierender klinischer Medizin an, mit (n = 160; 33,2 %) oder ohne (n = 207; 42,9 %) Engagement in klinischer Forschung. Einige wenige (n = 3; 0,6 %) wollten biomedizinische Grundlagenforschung betreiben. Eine akademische Karriere wurde von 23,5 % (n = 112) der Studenten angestrebt. Die Wahl für eine akademische Karriere war mit dem durchschnittlichen Studienerfolg (odds ratio (OR) = 1,75, 95 % Konfidenz Intervalll (CI) = 1,10–2,88) korreliert, wie auch mit höherer Punkteanzahl für Motivation bezüglich Fortkommen im Beruf (OR = 1,72; 95 % CI = 1,12 – 2,63) und in der akademischen Karriere (OR = 1,58; 95 % CI = 1,17 – 2,14). SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN: Medizinstudenten empfinden formale Charakteristika und persönliche Interessen als dominante Aspekte des Ausbildungsklimas an einer medizinischen Universität. Ihre Motivation liegt zumeist im Streben nach dem Abschluss des Studiums. Der Wechsel in Richtung eines Klimas mit mehr Sensibilität für soziale Aspekte und für ein der Gesellschaft nützliches Verhalten verlangt vielleicht ein Abgehen vom Frontalunterricht in Richtung einer interaktiven Lehre mit persönlicher Beziehung zwischen Lehrern und Studenten.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Ana Pangerčić
    • 1
  • Dario Sambunjak
    • 2
  • Darko Hren
    • 3
  • Matko Marušić
    • 4
  • Ana Marušić
    • 4
  1. 1.Zagreb University School of MedicineZagrebCroatia
  2. 2.Croatian Medical JournalZagreb University School of MedicineZagrebCroatia
  3. 3.Croatian Medical Journal, Faculty of PhilosophyUniversity of SplitSplitCroatia
  4. 4.Croatian Medical JournalUniversity of Split School of MedicineSplitCroatia

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