Attitude of the first year medical students towards medicine as career: Motivations and apprehensions of being a doctor

Abstract

The choice of a career as a doctor is a complex personal decision influenced by a multitude of factors. These include family background, role models, media, and personal experiences. The present study was done with the objectives to know the reasons for first-year medical students for joining MBBS and their apprehensions. A cross-sectional study carried out among first-year students of batch 2018, 2019, and 2020 of a Medical College of North India. The data was collected within 10 days of admission in MBBS. A total of 278 students were given pre-designed and pre-validated questionnaire after informed consent. Out of multiple reasons for being doctor respect in society was the largest, i.e. 83%, while 72% joined because of high earning by the doctor. More than 80% had a professional image of the doctor as a calm, helping and well-groomed person, while 60% thought doctors don’t listen properly, and 57% had a perception that doctors are not much concerned about the problems of patient. Sixtyeight percent (68%) thought media doesn’t portray a good image of doctors. According to students outrage in the community and lack of trust for doctors were the major reasons for violence against doctors. Munnabhai MBBS, Anand and Patch Adams, Sanjeevani and House MD were the movies and series motivated most students to be a doctor. Respect in society was the prime motivator to be a doctor among students still they feel media doesn’t justify the image of doctors. Movies and television series can be used to keep the students high in morale and excitement.