MEDICAL-SCHOOL ENTRANCE AND CAREER PLANS OF MALAYSIAN MEDICAL-STUDENTS

This study investigates the reasons for entry to medicine and the care er perspectives of phase III medical students of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The majority of the students were Malays from low soci o-economic backgrounds who entered medical school after completing a 2 -year matriculation course. An interest in medicine and helping people were the two main stated reasons for entry to medical school. A group of students wishing to work in private practice was identified. In co mparison to the rest of the study body, students in the group were: no t well prepared to enter medical school; dissatisfied with the course; and subject to family influences. A desire for monetary gain motivate d their choice of medicine as a career. Overall, 13% of the students w ished to change career because they were dissatisfied with their exper ience of medicine as undergraduates. The study did not find a signific ant difference in career intentions between female and male medical st udents. However, women were less likely to seek entrance into private practice or pursue formal postgraduate education. The choice of surger y as a career was confined to men. About 90% of the students had alrea dy decided on their future specialty. Four well-established specialtie s were their most popular choices. The gender of the students had no s ignificant influences of the decision to continue into postgraduate ed ucation. The proportion of female students who wished to marry doctors was significantly higher than for male students.