Family medicine rotations and medical students' intention to pursue family medicine: Descriptive study.

OBJECTIVE

To identify specific factors occurring during family medicine (FM) rotations that were associated with a change in intention to pursue FM.

DESIGN

Transversal descriptive study. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed on SurveyMonkey between September 2015 and April 2016.

SETTING

Family medicine rotation sites affiliated with the University of Montreal in Quebec.

PARTICIPANTS

Medical students who were conducting their rotations at participating sites and who had not yet chosen their residency specialty.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Specific factors occurring during a rotation that influenced medical students' intention to pursue FM in residency.

RESULTS

In the sample population, it was found that the FM rotation was generally highly appreciated by study participants, and that it improved the FM specialty's image while positively influencing the participants' intention to pursue FM. The degree of exposure to different areas of practice, overall atmosphere, the presence of role models, and the desire to return to the rotation site to practise were all moderately associated with a positive change in intention to pursue FM. There was a weak association between pursuing FM and participants' perception of physicians' interest in their work, rural rotation sites, positive interactions with physicians, perceptions of the rotation's level of difficulty, and degree of satisfaction with the final assessment. The results for other factors were not statistically significant. Concerning a negative change in the intention to pursue FM in residency, 2 factors were identified: the absence of a role model and lack of interest in returning to the rotation site. New positive factors were identified: overall atmosphere and the desire to return to the rotation site to practise.

CONCLUSION

Several factors related to the FM rotations appeared to act as prime motivators for change toward pursuing FM. This could support the development of an assessment tool and the improvement of FM rotations.