Family Medicine Through the Eyes of Final Year Medical Students; A University Example in South of Turkey

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In many countries, including Turkey, the number of students considering a career in primary care is low, although the need for primary physicians increases. Studies on this subject in Turkey are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate students' knowledge and attitudes about family medicine (FM) and to examine their intentions to enter the FM specialty. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in November 2020. The data was collected via an online questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of the 225 students (response rate: 82.72%; female rate: 58.66%; mean age: 24.43 years) completed the survey. It was found that 27.55% (26 males, 36 females) of the students would include FM specialty among their specialty preferences. The most important factors for the specialization choice of these students were comfort/work-life balance and personal interest. There was no significant relationship between gender, income, place of residence, and preferring FM specialty (p> 0.05). The majority of students approved that the work-life balance of family physicians was better than that of other physicians (92.88%), that FM had protective properties besides treatment (92.00%), that long-term physician-patient relationship (88.00%). 'FM is as exciting as other specialties' (16.44%) and 'family physicians are given the necessary respect in society' (27.55%) were the least approved statements. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Less than a third of students were found to have an interest in an FM specialty. The most common negative thoughts about FM are that FM is not exciting and is not properly respected in society.

Keywords

• family medicine
• medical students
• career choice; knowledge
• attitude.