• Hongbo Pei, Yanyan Sun, ZhengGang Bai, Zhimiao Yu, Pu Chang, Cuipeng Qiu, Jiajia Li, Najuan Zhao, Yongcong Cheng, and Aimin Yang.
• Institute of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China and The Belt and Road Research Centre of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China peihb@lzu.edu.cn.
• Rural Remote Health. 2018 Oct 1; 18 (4): 4519.

IntroductionSince 2010, the Chinese government has been introducing selective admission policy to recruit rural students for 5-year western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine undergraduate education in order to improve rural townships' medical services system in western China. This study aimed to analyse the selective admission policy in western China from the perspective of medical students' attitudes towards rural career choice.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted and an anonymous questionnaire was used to investigate a sample of medical undergraduates chosen under the selective admission policy.ResultsThe results indicate that medical undergraduates' enthusiasm to work in rural areas was very limited in Gansu province, western China. Extrinsic motivation played a more important role in rural career choice than intrinsic motivation. The students' attitudes were affected by socioeconomic and cultural conditions, which determined their personal and professional environment. Course major and family economic conditions were associated with their self-decisions.ConclusionFurther educational intervention should emphasise the students' humanistic inner qualities and recognition of professional value. Further policy adjustment should considered, for example improving social policy-based regional character and national development strategies.

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