Khan Raamish A, Tariq Muneera, Sultan Ifra, Khan Allahdad, Riaz Abdul Ahad, Shahzad Humna, Uzair Muhammad, Younus Ayesha, Zain Bin Shahid Muhammad, Poombal Fnu
Community Medicine, Bakhtawar Amin Medical and Dental College, Multan, PAK.
Internal Medicine, Fatima Memorial Hospital College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, PAK.
Cureus. 2024 Aug 28;16(8):e67991. doi: 10.7759/cureus.67991. eCollection 2024 Aug.
Background Community medicine plays a vital role in public health, yet research on medical students' career choices in this field is limited, especially in underserved areas like South Punjab, Pakistan. This study explores the factors that influence undergraduate medical students' interest in pursuing a career in community medicine. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 305 fourth- and final-year undergraduate medical students from various colleges in South Punjab. Data were collected via a structured online questionnaire, focusing on students' interests, motivations, barriers, and perceptions related to community medicine. Results The survey found that 40% of students showed interest in community medicine, with higher interest among females. Key motivators included preventive healthcare and public health initiatives, while financial constraints and unclear career progression were significant barriers. A gap was noted between students' interest and their perceived preparedness to address public health challenges. Conclusion Female students showed greater interest in community medicine and were more likely to recommend it. Bridging the gap between interest and perceived preparedness requires enhancing practical experiences, increasing the visibility of community medicine successes, and addressing financial and career progression concerns. Implementing these strategies can help attract and retain students in community medicine and improve public health outcomes.
社区医学在公共卫生中发挥着至关重要的作用，但关于医学生在该领域职业选择的研究有限，尤其是在巴基斯坦旁遮普省南部等服务不足的地区。本研究探讨影响本科医学生从事社区医学职业兴趣的因素。方法：对旁遮普省南部各学院的305名本科四年级和最后一年的医学生进行了横断面调查。通过结构化在线问卷收集数据，重点关注学生对社区医学的兴趣、动机、障碍及认知。结果：调查发现，40%的学生对社区医学表现出兴趣，女性兴趣更高。主要动机包括预防保健和公共卫生举措，而经济限制和职业发展不明确是重大障碍。学生的兴趣与他们认为应对公共卫生挑战的准备程度之间存在差距。结论：女学生对社区医学表现出更大兴趣，且更有可能推荐该领域。弥合兴趣与认知准备之间的差距需要增加实践经验、提高社区医学成功案例的可见性，并解决经济和职业发展方面的担忧。实施这些策略有助于吸引和留住从事社区医学的学生，并改善公共卫生成果。
