Ninety-six first- and second-year students (97 percent) at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, School of Medicine responded to a questionnaire on their career choices and their perceptions of changes in the organization and financing of medical care. Their responses indicated a great deal of student concern regarding the future of medical practice. Overall, the students were the most concerned about a perceived loss of practice autonomy and inadequate financial rewards. In the face of these perceptions, the students reported changes in career preferences: from smaller to larger communities, from solo or partnership arrangements to group practice settings, and from generalist to specialist practices. A student's anticipated debt level was the most important predictor of whether the student changed career goals.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hafferty et al. (1986) studied this question.