Widening interest, widening participation: factors influencing school students' aspirations to study medicine

BMC Medical Education
Alexander J MartinBryan Burford

Abstract

Under-representation of some socio-economic groups in medicine is rooted in under-representation of those groups in applications to medical school. This study aimed to explore what may deter school-age children from applying to study medicine. Workshops were undertaken with school students aged 16-17 years ('Year 12', n = 122 across three workshops) and 13-14 years ('Year 9', n = 295 across three workshops). Workshops used a variety of methods to identify and discuss participants' perceptions of medicine, medical school and the application process. Year 12 workshops focused on applications and medical school, while Year 9 took a broader approach reflecting their relative distance from applying. Subsequent workshops were informed by the findings of earlier ones. The main finding was that potential applicants had limited knowledge about medicine and medical school in several areas. Older students would benefit from accessible information about medical degrees and application processes, access to work experience opportunities and personal contact with medical students and junior doctors, particularly those from a similar background. Younger students demonstrated a lack of awareness of the breadth of medical careers and a limited u...Continue Reading

References

Sep 10, 2005·Medical Education·John C McLachlan
Sep 10, 2005·Medical Education·Abdul Wadud KamaliDiana F Wood
Dec 30, 2014·Medical Education·Jennifer A ClelandMandy Moffat
Mar 30, 2017·Academic Medicine : Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges·Jed D GonzaloDaniel R Wolpaw

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Citations

Jul 30, 2020·Korean journal of medical education·Diantha SoemantriGominda Ponnamperuma
Feb 15, 2019·Medical Education·Kirsty AlexanderSandra Nicholson
Jul 16, 2021·BMJ Open·Kathrine Gibson SmithJennifer Cleland

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