Table 1 Factors Examined as Potentially Influencing an Interest in a Career in Geriatrics by medical students
From: Why medical students do not choose a career in geriatrics: a systematic review
Factors | Influence to the interest in geriatrics | |
|---|---|---|
| Â | Articles qualitative | Articles quantitative |
Medical school characteristics | Â | Â |
Department of geriatric medicine |  | 9 + s |
Preclinical education in geriatrics |  | 10 + ns, 11 + ns, 12 ns |
Preclinical elective education in geriatrics |  | 14 + s |
Clinical education in geriatrics |  | 14 + s, 16 + s, 17+, 18+, 19 ns |
Knowledge of geriatrics | Â | 12Â ns, 22Â ns, 23Â ns, 24Â ns |
Medical student characteristics | Â | Â |
Previous personal contact with elderly/care of elderly | 25+ | 23 ns, 19 + s, 22 + s, 15 ns, 20 ns, 23 ns, 26 ns, 27 + s |
Female gender | Â | 15Â ns, 20+, 22+, 26+ |
Age of the student | Â | 15Â ns, 20Â ns, 26Â ns |
Ethnic backgrounds of the student | Â | 15Â ns, 26Â ns |
Medical students’ fear about aging and death | 25+ |  |
Attitudes towards the elderly |  | 15 + s, 22 +s, 23 ns, 26 + s |
Seeing themselves as a healer | 25- | Â |
Seeing themselves as a caretaker | 25+ | Â |
Medical students’ perception of characteristics geriatrics |  |  |
Few are cured/no direct benefit | 25-, 28- | Â |
Management of chronic illness | Â | 20-s, 17-s |
Focus on quality of life | 25 − + | 20-s |
Complexity of geriatric patients | 28-(+) | Â |
Not feeling comfortable with ambiguity | Â | 20-s |
Low financial reward | 28- | 20-s, 17-s |
Possibility to work part-time/perceived lighter call schedule |  | 17 + s |
Length of training (five years) | Â | 20-s |
Lack of prestige | 28- | 20-s |