Factors associated with changing levels of interest in primary care duringmedical school

Purpose. To examine changing levels of interest in primary. care as related to clinical experiences during medical school, and to other variables. Method. A total of 1,911 (74%) allopathic medical school graduates responde d to a national survey in early 1993. Respondents' reported changes of inte rest in primary care during medical school were cross-tabulated with their clinical experiences in medical school, their demographics, their interests prior to medical school, and their future practice plans. Results. Increased interest in primary care during medical school was stron gly associated with the electives taken in primary care. This positive chan ge of interest in primary care was found to be associated with interest pri or to medical school and with primary care career plans. Conclusion. Schools wishing to graduate more students who enter primary car e specialties may want to raise the number of primary care elective courses to increase students' interests, and to help them choose to enter and rema in in primary care specialties.