From: Why medical students do not choose a career in geriatrics: a systematic review
Factors | Influence to the interest in geriatrics | |
---|---|---|
Articles qualitative | Articles quantitative | |
Medical school characteristics | ||
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 | 12 ns, 22 ns, 23 ns, 24 ns | |
Medical student characteristics | ||
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 | 15 ns, 20+, 22+, 26+ | |
Age of the student | 15 ns, 20 ns, 26 ns | |
Ethnic backgrounds of the student | 15 ns, 26 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- | |
Seeing themselves as a caretaker | 25+ | |
Medical students’ perception of characteristics geriatrics | ||
Few are cured/no direct benefit | 25-, 28- | |
Management of chronic illness | 20-s, 17-s | |
Focus on quality of life | 25 − + | 20-s |
Complexity of geriatric patients | 28-(+) | |
Not feeling comfortable with ambiguity | 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) | 20-s | |
Lack of prestige | 28- | 20-s |