Barr Donald A, Gonzalez Maria Elena, Wanat Stanley F
Department of Sociology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2047, USA.
Acad Med. 2008 May;83(5):503-11. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e31816bda16.
To determine the causes among underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups (URM) of a decline in interest during the undergraduate years in pursuing a career in medicine.
From fall 2002 through 2007, the authors conducted a longitudinal study of 362 incoming Stanford freshmen (23% URM) who indicated on a freshman survey that they hoped to become physicians. Using a 10-point scale of interest, the authors measured the change in students' levels of interest in continuing premedical studies between the beginning of freshman year and the end of sophomore year. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 68 participants, approximately half of whom had experienced decreases in interest in continuing as premeds, and half of whom who had experienced increases in interest.
URM students showed a larger decline in interest than did non-URM students; women showed a larger decline than did men, independent of race or ethnicity. The authors found no association between scholastic ability as measured by SAT scores and changes in level of interest. The principal reason given by students for their loss of interest in continuing as premeds was a negative experience in one or more chemistry courses. Students also identified problems in the university's undergraduate advising system as a contributor.
Largely because of negative experiences with chemistry classes, URM students and women show a disproportionate decline in interest in continuing in premedical studies, with the result that fewer apply to medical school.
确定在本科阶段对从事医学职业的兴趣下降的少数族裔群体（URM）中的原因。
从2002年秋季到2007年，作者对362名斯坦福大学新生（23%为URM）进行了一项纵向研究，这些新生在新生调查中表示希望成为医生。作者使用10分制的兴趣量表，测量了学生在大一开始到大二结束期间继续医学预科学习的兴趣水平变化。对68名参与者进行了后续访谈，其中约一半人对继续从事医学预科学习的兴趣有所下降，另一半人兴趣有所增加。
URM学生的兴趣下降幅度比非URM学生更大；女性的下降幅度比男性更大，与种族或族裔无关。作者发现，以SAT成绩衡量的学业能力与兴趣水平变化之间没有关联。学生们表示对继续从事医学预科学习失去兴趣的主要原因是在一门或多门化学课程中经历了负面体验。学生们还指出大学本科咨询系统中的问题也是一个促成因素。
主要由于化学课程的负面经历，URM学生和女性在继续医学预科学习的兴趣方面下降幅度不成比例，结果是申请医学院的人数减少。
