• J M Chuck.
• Department of Family Practice, Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices, Fairfield, California, USA.
• West. J. Med. 1996 Mar 1; 164 (3): 228-30.

AbstractThe number of medical school applications continues to rise despite recent reports of decreased physician job satisfaction. To better understand this paradoxical trend, I surveyed 84 premedical students about their expectations of a medical career. Almost all respondents anticipated that as physicians they would be able to cure, heal, and help their patients (98%) and that their work would be intellectually satisfying (95%). Most anticipated that their jobs would be prestigious (83%) and even fun (73%). Far fewer than half the respondents would be discouraged from pursuing a medical career by the fear of being sued (38%), business worries (22%), or administrative duties (20%). Comparison of the student responses with results of a physician job satisfaction survey carried out the same year showed that the students, as a group, were modestly idealistic with respect to the daily work of being a physician and somewhat naive about the problems caused by various business and administrative issues. I conclude that premedical students could be better informed about the current reality of being a physician and that practicing physicians are responsible for providing this education.

8 keywords...

hide…