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. 2018 Jan 17;18:16. doi: 10.1186/s12909-018-1123-4

Table 3.

Factors affecting motivations of medical students to select medicine across different country income groups

S. No Name of the study Name of author Year Type of study Place of study No. of participants Factors categorization Individual factors
High Income Countries
1. Career motivation and burnout among medical students in Hungary – could altruism be a protection factor? Gyorffy Z et al. 2016 Cross- Sectional Quantitative Hungary 733 • Humanitarian
• Scientific
• Altruistic motivation
• Gaining a degree,
• Finding a job,
• Accessing career opportunities.
2. Differences in medical students’ academic interest and performance across career choice motivations Kim KJ et al. 2016 Cross –Sectional
Quantitative
South Korea 195 • Scientific
• Societal
• Intellectual curiosity
• Personal illness / or death of family members
• social prestige
• financial gain
3. Motivation towards medical career choice and future career plans of Polish medical students. Gąsiorowski J et al. 2015 Cross- Sectional
Quantitative
Poland 262 • Scientific
• Societal
• Desire to help others
• Interest in medical subjects
4. Why medicine? Analyzing students’ motives for studying medicine Becker JC et al. 2015 Cross- Sectional
Quantitative
Germany 1545 • Scientific
• Humanitarian
• Many-faceted workspaces
• varied tasks
• helping patients
• scientific interest
• good career prospects
5. Studying medicine – a cross-sectional questionnaire-based analysis of the motivational factors which influence graduate and undergraduate entrants in Ireland Sulong S et al. 2014 Cross- Sectional-Quantitative Ireland 305 • Scientific
• Societal
• Humanitarian
• intellectual satisfaction,
• encouragement by family/friends
• financial reasons, and
• professional independence.
6. A qualitative analysis of statements on motivation of applicants for medical school Wouters A et al. 2014 Cross- Sectional-Qualitative Amsterdam 96 • Scientific
• Humanitarian
• Societal
• Research opportunities
• Interest in subject
• Loss of loved one
• Opportunities to travel/work abroad
• Contact with people
7. Applicants to the University of Adelaide Medical School: Influences, motivation and alternative career choices Laurence CM et al. 2013 Cross- Sectional
Quantitative
Australia 1097 • Scientific
• Humanitarian
• desire to help others
• an affinity for science and
• enjoying interacting with others
8. Interests and perspectives of first and last year medical students Toso A et al. 2012 Cross- Sectional
Quantitative
Spain 415 • Scientific
• Humanitarian
• social interest
• interest in science and academia.
9. The medical career choice motivation- results from Hungarian study Girasek E 2011 Cross- sectional
Quantitative
Hungary 560 • Scientific
• Humanitarian
• General interest
• Intellectual work
• Helping profession
• Social utility
10. Effects of age, gender and educational background on strength of motivation for medical school Kusurkar RA et al. 2010 Cross- sectional
Quantitative
Netherland 620 • Scientific • Higher age
• Pre-entrance educational background
11. Motivation, study habits, and expectations of
medical students in Singapore
Amin Z 2009 Cross- Sectional
Mixed methods
Singapore 192 • Scientific
• Societal
• interesting challenging job
• Family encouragement
• prefer to study overseas
12. A two factor model of performance approach goals in student motivation for starting medical school. Wilson JI 2009 Cross- Sectional
Quantitative
West Indies 180 • Humanitarian
• Societal
• wanting to help people
• being respected and successful
• fulfilling a sense of achievement.
13. Why people apply to medical school: implications for widening participation activities. McHarg J et al. 2007 Cross Sectional
Qualitative
United Kingdom 15 • Scientific
• Humanitarian
• desire to help people
• desire for gainful employment
• wish to give something to mankind
• desire to save lives
• to fulfil their lifelong ambition
14. Comparison of Career Choice Motivation and Moral Reasoning Ability between Students in Baccalaureate and Graduate-entry Programs. Kim MK 2007 Cross- Sectional
Quantitative
Korea • Scientific
• Humanitarian
• Societal
• Scientific interest
• Opportunities to care for people
• Status
• Job security
15. Demographics and motives of medical school applicants in Croatia. Puljak L et al. 2007 Cross- Sectional
Quantitative
Croatia 567 • Societal
• Scientific
• Love for medical profession
• Humanity of medicine
• Interest in human body structure and function Interest in science
• An opportunity to work/interact with people
16. The attractions of medicine: the generic motivations of medical school applicants in relation to demography, personality and achievement McManus IC et al. 2006 Cross Sectional
Quantitative
London 2867 • Scientific
• Humanitarian
• Societal
• Indispensibility
• Respect
• Helping others
• Science
Upper middle income countries
17. Achievement motivation level in students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and its influential factors. Kavousipour S et al. 2015 Cross –Sectional
Quantitative
Iran 770 • Societal • family attitudes
• getting good jobs in future
• respect for themselves
• the ability to learn
• believing their role in victory and defeat
• tendency toward optimism about themselves
18. The characteristics of medical students and motivation towards career choice implications for curriculum Korkmaz H et al. 2013 Cross- Sectional-mixed methods Turkey 298 • Societal
• Humanitarian
• Social status
• Responsible job
• High Income
• Helping others
19. Burnout and career choice motivation in medical students. Pagnin D et al. 2013 Cross- Sectional
Quantitative
Brazil 277 • Societal
• Scientific
• Humanitarian
• Intellectual curiosity
• professional autonomy
• altruism
• interest in human relationships
20. Factors Affecting Choice of Specialty Among First-year Medical Students
of Four Universities in Different Regions of Turkey
Dikici FM et al. 2008 Cross- Sectional Quantitative Turkey 717 • Societal
• Scientific
• better financial opportunities
• prestige
• personal development
• more benefits for the patient
• wish to work in an urban area
Lower Middle Income Countries
21. Why become a doctor? Evaluation of motivational factors for selecting medical profession as a career Kuriakose S 2015 Cross sectional
Quantitative
India 100 • Humanitarian • serve the poor and needy
• own interest.
• doctor in family.
• near ones suffering from chronic illness or cancer,
• themselves suffering from health problems
• influenced by the lack of health care in rural areas.
22. Indian medical students in public and private sector medical schools: are motivations and career aspirations different? – studies from Madhya Pradesh, India Diwan V et al. 2013 Cross –Sectional
Quantitative
India 792 • Humanitarian
• Societal
• Personal choice
• Parent’s wish
• Service
• Security
• Prestige
23. Why become a Doctor? Exploring the Career Aspirations and Apprehensions among Interns in South India Seetharaman N
et al.
2012 Cross- Sectional Quantitative South India 147 • Humanitarian
• Societal
• Scientific
• Personal interest & passion for the profession
• financial stability
• parents’ wish
24. Career Aspirations and Apprehensions Regarding Medical Education Among First Year Medical Students in Delhi Lal P et al. 2007 Cross- Sectional
Quantitative
India 189 • Humanitarian
• Societal
• serve the sick and society
• high status of a doctor in the society
• father’s will
• to earn money and
• mother’s will