FACTORS PROMPTING STUDENTS TO CHOOSE THE FIELD OF MEDICINE

SUNDAY MARIE M. CABARRUBIAS

GRAZZIA MELROSE RENA E. DIABO

MAE C. LIBRE

FRANCES EDELWEISS R. LOPEZ

JEVENUS M. MALICAY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR INQUIRIES,

INVESTIGATION AND IMMERSION

MARCH 2019
 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Introduction

Medicine covers a wide range of specialties and qualifications. It was developed

to combat the problems of diseases and wounds. It is one of the oldest and noblest of all

professions and is considered one of the most respectable professions in society. Many

students choose this career as an easy way out to escape poverty. They perceive medicine

as more profitable professions among other fields. As stated in the study of Jothula and

others (2018) Medical professions is one of the highly rated professions among the

students as it offers satisfactory career both financially and socially. However, there are

factors that are stopping a few of the students in pursuing a medical profession. Lack of

financial support to sustain four years of studying medicine, the years it will take to

officially practice the profession, and the mental capacity of one’s student to overcome

the struggles inside medicine school is only a few factors that give uncertainty to the

students. There are also some who were forced to take this career path which makes them

unsure in following it. Once they become uncertain to their career choice they will have

confusion and they will be lost on their track. They will have a hard time to decide on

what career path they should and would want to follow. 

The career decision making is critical. The future of one’s life depends on the

career choice of the person. According to Obadeji and others (2015), the act of career

choice is complex and unique for each individual. It depends on both cognitive factors

and the social structure of the individual. With regard to the students planning to work in

the medical field, there is surely a motivation behind their well-driven spirit to pursue the
said career. The main possible motivating factors of these aspirant medical professionals

have something to do with Scientific, Societal, and Humanitarian. This research was

made to help the students understand these factors and to guide them in choosing their

careers.

Statement of the Problem

The aim is to assess all the first year and fourth year student doctors from

Silliman University Medical School in regards to the factors why they pursue medicine. It

is not unknown to us that a lot of young Filipino adult dreams to become a doctor in the

future.  But there are some who gets confused whether they still want to pursue studies in

the middle of their medicine journey.  Some of these reasons are because of financial

capability and mostly the years it will take to completely practice medicine. Also,

majority goal of those aspiring doctors is to improve their lives in terms of financial and

social status but the years plus the difficulty to be in that status causes them to feel

uncertain. However, not all these aspirant sincerely wished to be in the medical field

instead, they are forced by their parents' decisions or by their family and society’s

expectations. In consequence, it may lead them to discouragement in the middle of the

journey and worst, it may lead them to depression, anxiety, and such. These concerns

give the researchers the motivation to identify the different factors prompting students to

pursue the medical field. In order to make this research successful, the study aims to

answer the following research questions: 

1.) What drives the student doctors to chase the path of becoming a medical doctor?

2.) How does the social setting affect their drive to accomplish their study?
3.) How does the economic status affect their driving spirit to become a medical doctor?

Objectives of the Study

This study aims to find out and understand the reason behind the decision of 1st

and 4th year medical students in Silliman University to pursue medicine. It also aims to

collect information on the different factors that affects the student in choosing their

course. The factors that affect the students’ decision in choosing their course will be

studied, within this broad theme the research had number of specific objectives:

1.) To help the students understand the reason behind their decision to pursue

medicine.

2.) To know how great of an impact these factors have on the student when choosing

courses.

3.) To know why do these factors affect the choice of the students.

4.) To evaluate medical student's motivation in selecting medical career and track

factors which may affect their incentives through the curriculum of medicine

students of Silliman University.

Statement of Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference in the factors that influence medical

students in choosing medicine as a career between 1st year and 4th year medicine students.
Alternative Hypothesis: There is a significant difference in the factors that influence

medical students in choosing medicine as a career between 1st year and 4th year medicine

students.

Significance of the Study

Choosing a career is one of the most difficult decision any student can make. Its

career of choice could be influenced by peers, family and “interest in people”. One of the

top chosen career by students is medicine field. The aim of this research is to know the

perspectives, experiences and challenges of 1st and 4th year medicine students of

Silliman University. Knowing the challenges of being a medicine student, one can be

able to prepare themselves when the time comes. Lastly, this study hopes to establish an

understanding towards the factors which will affect the reasons why students choose

medicine as a career.

Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on students who chose medicine as their career choice. The

scope area of this study is located within the Silliman University Medical School. 100

medical students are chosen as respondents in this study, 50 coming from the 1 st year and

another 50 from the 4th year medical students. The researchers will provide survey

questionnaire. The researchers limited their research to 1st year and 4th year medical

students in order to evaluate variety of factors depending on the experience from the

beginning of medical school and to its utmost level.

Factor – is a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result (Oxford

Dictionaries, N.D.).

Prompting – is the action of saying something to persuade, encourage, or remind

someone to do or say something (Oxford Dictionaries, N.D.).

Medicine – is the field of health and healing. It includes nurses, doctors, and various

specialists. It covers diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, medical research,

and many other aspects of health (Biggers, 2018).

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND RELATED STUDIES

This chapter presents significant and relevant information about the factors that

affect the decision of 1st and 4th year medical students in choosing their course. It also

talks about concepts and ideas to give the readers a broader and deeper understanding of

what medical students experience in their everyday lives. Different factors are also

discussed in this section for the readers to know and understand the reason behind their

decision to pursue medicine.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

There are myths and misconceptions that often drive people towards the career in

medicine: My parents were physicians, money and prestige, undecided and public

service. Medicine is a career that requires dedication and a lifelong dream. Choosing

medicine as a choice of career will lead you to a comfortable life and physicians are well

compensated for the work they do. To pursue medicine, you must have a chosen dream

not evading indecision. As stated by the notes of Ben, “the best advice that I can give to

someone thinking about medical school is to remember that medical training is a very

intense eight-to-ten year process during some of the prime years of our life, if you are
excited about that, then go for it”. You should determine your options and intentions in

advance before pursuing medicine. If you’re motivated to study medicine because of

fancy cars, low handicap and a beach house than it does with patient care then you should

go back on reflecting yourself. According to Miller & Bissel (2007), “Society has doctors

providing compassionate care for all in need and the practical realities of limited

resources medicine is being practiced. We should be aware in defending our intentions

and staying true to your altruism will be a big challenge in our everyday life but if you

succeed, you’ll not only directly serve your own patients but you will also lead by

example and help change medicine for the good of all.” Altruism is a guiding principle

and a part of the physicians character as you enter clinical practice though it can be one

of the frustrations and dissatisfaction but you will also discover that every empathy and

comfort that is offered to your patients will be repaid and cannot be overruled.

Parry and Parry (1976) said that in the past years, the middle class does not see

any other field that is more challenging and difficult to reach aside to medicine. Even

though it is not the kind of field that can be for everyone in terms of money as it cost too

much, many people still look up to this field. According to Pepper (1877), the people

praise medical professions because they are used to seeing it highly with life and work

and rewards it could offer. It is one of the professions that can help improve someone's

life. The income that could be earned can be more than enough to make you a living.  

Zelick (2007) stated that becoming a doctor is one of the most common conscious

desires among children and teenagers, but it seldom becomes true. The wish to hold

power over others and make money, although present, is unusually admitted. But not

everyone who desires to become a doctor wishes to hold power nor make money. Some
desire to become one for purpose of public service. Girgis, M.D. (2017) explained that

being a doctor, or any professional in the medical setting, they are bound by duty to care

for patients. This basic goal often becomes murky in the fog of third-party and political

agendas. Their mission should always include a sense of doing the best for their patients

and optimizing clinical outcomes. Everything else comes secondary: profits, work or life

balance, professional aspirations or anything that might come between them and their

primary mission. If they find any hindrance on providing the patients with the best

medical care, they should try to eliminate these obstacles with the best of their abilities. 

While not everyone who is going to take-up medicine is by their choice. Many

who proceeds to medicine unwillingly are usually those who led by their parents' plans

for them. As said by Ramphal (2017), the profession of medical doctors are perceived by

many parents as a highly respected and honored profession that gives you secured future.

Medicine is often seen as a profession where you can find money and create a good

lifestyle. Moreover, parents can silently or sometimes showcase their successful

parenting skills through boasting or share their children's success among the relatives and

friends on and off social media. However, this leads to the unsatisfying career of the

students. As indicated by Lore (2008), almost only like 30 percent those who finished

college and are now professionals say they love or like their work while the rest of the

percentage says it was neutral and are in the deepest depths of career hell. Furthermore,

as they are forced to enter medical school, expectations from the parents might bring

burden to them. Taylor, Ph.D. (2010) said that setting outcome expectations also

communicate to your children that you value results over everything else, so they'll come

to judge themselves by the same standards. Contrary to what you may believe, ability and
outcome expectations actually hinder your children's achievement efforts. Additionally,

Ellen Nyland (2015) eloquently stated that expectations limit us in our relationship to

others and to the things we can do. We tend to forget our identity in order to meet other

people and society’s expectation. But if only we could learn how not to live up to their

expectations we might see the real world outside the society’s expectation. If you had no

expectation defining you, you could choose any career you wanted, and live your life

without worrying about whether the society will agree with you or will not.

Fabian (2008) indicated that, “The decision to pursue medicine as a career should

be well thought-out, and all options should be considered. As prospective medical

student, you should ultimately make the choice to apply to medical school based on good

reasons and motives and avoid using the wrong reasons as a driving force”.

In the book “Becoming a Medical Doctor: Is It the Right Career Choice for You?”

by Fabian, point out that financial gain is not an appropriate reason in pursuing medicine

as a profession. It is one of the biggest reason why medical doctors become unsatisfied

with their occupation. Becoming a physician results to have a stable career, however this

doesn’t completely satisfy your job. Financial achievement does not mean isn’t

important, but right decision should be considered in choosing your career to make you

contented.

One way to be successful with your profession, you must identify your objectives.

Affecting a student doctor decision in pursuing a career in medicine are the identified

factors which are the nature of the discipline, lifestyle factors and family commitments,

the training program(s) required to obtain the qualifications, the ability to travel while
working/studying, the "personality' of the graduate and, for some, financial rewards

(Burnand, 2007).

A career in medicine allows a person to improve the lives of his fellow human

beings through modern medical care. This proceeding learning process will keep a

persons curiosity peeve, even as it provides you with new knowledge and information.

Even after they had retired, there are a number of physician who still continued to

contribute and volunteer to medical and medical education, which testify their passion in

the medical field.

People who are enticed to a career in the medical profession generally possess

explicit characteristics, the most basic of which is the desire to help people. A career in

medicine offers a wide range of ways, such as clinical work, research, education, or

administrative interests, and it further ventures into a multitude of interests or specialties.

Some areas of medicine can be procedurally oriented, while others can be laboratory

based. All the different aspects of this career permits medical students a certain degree of

liberty in choosing which area of medicine they would like to pursue.

After being informed about your career choice, it’s important to adopt realistic

goals and expectations about the field of medicine. If a potential student is aware and

understands the important reasons for entering the field, his/her motivation will be much

clearer and stronger. These kind of situations are likely to arise after becoming a

physician and will result to questioning his/herself whether he/she made the right choice.

However, if the person is able to reflect back on the reasons that made him/her decide,

his/her ambivalence is more likely to be solved. (Fabian, 2008)

to practice medicine independently. People who are interested in becoming doctors must

get a bachelor’s degree. Upon choosing a major, it doesn’t usually matter what it is,

however, a lot of students choose science-related degree like chemistry or biology.

Moreover, there are some colleges and universities offers pre-med courses and programs

for those students who are sure on becoming doctors.

The next step is medical school. Candidates must have good grades,

recommendations, and experience. They also have to take the Medical College

Admission Test (MCAT). Medical school programs takes four long years. The first two

years are spent mostly in class. Anatomy, pharmacology, how to examine patients, and

much more are some of the topics students learn in class. Classes requires a lot of work,

since students are learning valuable skills that will affect people’s lives. The last two

years of medical school are on-site, which means that students work with patients. “They

rotate through different departments, such as internal medicine, pediatrics, and

psychiatry. Rotations help students decide what they want to focus on for their career”

(Etingoff, 2014).

Weiler (1977) stated that most students form their career plans on the myths on

what we think should be rather than the reality. Personal values and desires are not often

realized without the active and conscious effort of the student. The student should be

motivated to bring out good results. If the student desires to work in the career choice

process, the student must be informed and must understand the truths of that process.

When the student is already aware, then they can start to avoid dealing with the myths
within the process as a whole. At that point, the student develops a plan of action to

achieve their goals from the decisions of their career choice.

Everyone has factors or constructs. Constructs are personality traits that are

valuable when choosing a career. The environment, such as our formal education plays a

vital role in the formation of constructs. Organizations of personality constructs are

visible in three situations. First, a person can see the factors that could change the

personality. Second, only certain environmental factors have an impact upon the

individual and these factors influence the ideas that the individual has had about

themselves. Third, among all identified factors, only a few are recognized, and even those

may be altered to fit the requirements needed to fulfil the comfort limits of our reality.

The process choice is affected by experience and purpose. One’s experience is limited by

the ability to discern what the individual is ready to perceive. Thus, experience and

purpose have translated to self and situation, or personality and environment (Kroll et al.,

1970).
 REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES

Obadeji1, Olofintoye, and Oluwole1 “Career in Medicine: What factors influence

medical students 2014-2015”. This study aimed at identifying some of the factors

influencing the choice of medicine as a career and to identify modifiable factors related to

this decision making. The authors want to show how an understanding of these factors

influencing career decisions may help in planning curriculum for medical students and

also in understanding the attitudes of doctors toward their clients. This study presents the

possible factors influencing the choice of career in medicine, although, personal interest

of the students appears to be the most important, though with other modifiable factors.

Ausman, Javed, Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Salehi, “Social Factors Influencing Career

Choice in a Medical School in the United Arab Emirates” the goal of this research was to

identify familial and nonfamilial social factors influencing post-secondary students’

choices of career in medicine. In the findings of the study found out that Parents had

significant influence on post-secondary career choice in medicine and friends had a weak
influence. Career guidance programs should consider including parents at the process of

career selection at the secondary level.

There are a lot of reasons why people choose to study medicine. Studying

medicine could be their first choice or the back-up degree option. Hence, it includes

factors such as salaries, giving back to society, career and course variety, great social

status and a lot more. (Study Portals, 2017) Medical professionals are fairly well

remunerated. The basic starting salary of a doctor is about 19 - 21,000 pesos monthly

while a District Health Physician earns 48-53,000 pesos monthly. (Glassdoor, 2012)

Moreover, as times goes by, one will be having a direct impact on people’s lives. If

you’re a conscientious person, a career in medicine would certainly satisfy your sense of

duty. Most doctors has this major reason for choosing a career in medicine (The

Complete University Guide, n.d.).

There are many different branches of medicine and here are some of them;

Biomedicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine and a

lot more. You either choose to work in hospitals, science institutions or be part of some

medical departments (Collins, 2016).

Doctors are seen by as people as a symbol of dignity, responsibility and services

towards the community. Members of the community are aware of the sacrifices and hard

work of what these medical professional goes through to reach and maintain their job at

an essential level. And so, their opinions concerning the welfare of the community are

taken into serious consideration (Study Portals, 2017).

licensed doctors in the Philippines, but only 70,000 are active in the profession. Filipinos

are encouraged to become doctors not just for the money but also for the sheer desire to

serve the community (Ultimate Guide, n.d.).

Studying medicine is a significant decision. In the Philippines, the Doctor of

Medicine degree is a five-year graduate program that will build your foundation as a

future doctor followed by more training years at the start of your career.  So it’s

important to make sure that medicine is right for you. It’s very important that one

understands the reality of being a doctor before committing to the pathway. Medicine

does not only binds scientific challenge with human interaction but also offers a chance

to change people’s lives (The Medic Portal, n.d.).

This study seeks to discover the factors that affect students’ decision in choosing

their college courses. Another factor that students encounter to pursue a career is peer-

pressure. Peer-pressure is when an individual tends to get involved in the decision of their

friends. According to Sokatch (2010), peers influence others to take certain courses just

because it suits them but as a result of the choice they make does not suit them. Some

parents seem to ignore the desired course of their children because what they suggest is

more suitable to their children. Others who pursue their desired course can graduate with

high spirits. One suggested solution is for the parents to be open minded to their children

letting their children to decide on their own. Deciding oneself helps one individual to

develop and progress in life. According to Seashore, “the way you feel about yourself

influences the way others feel about you” means that most of the youth are being forced
to be like their parents and to choose universities that they’ve been to and are pressured to

do well with it.

CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The researcher chose a survey research design since it will benefit to answer the

questions and meet the objectives of the study. The survey research is one in which a

group of people or items is studied by collecting and analyzing data from only a few

people or items considered to be representative of the entire group. A survey is used in

assessing public opinion or individual characteristics by the use of questionnaire and

sampling methods (McBurney,1994).

This research will be conducted at the Silliman University of Dumaguete City,

Negros Oriental, standing near the Silliman University Medical Center headed by Dean

Warden R. Ursos. They have the vision and mission of becoming the leading institution

in the region in providing quality medical education committed to giving competent

physicians who are guided by Christian principles in the provision of excellent health

care. Also to produce medical graduates who can transcend in any of the responsible

roles as health providers, teachers, researchers, administrators, and social mobilizers in

the Philippine health care system, who possess the necessary skills for a lifelong and self-

directed learning, and whose caring, compassion and social consciousness emphasize the

quality of such education.

Respondents

The respondents of the study are the 1st year and 4th year medicine students of

Silliman University Medical School. Each respondent must be a bona fide student of

Silliman University. The researchers will gather data from one hundred (100)

respondents, fifty (50) from 1st year medicine students and another fifty (50) from the 4th

year medicine students of Silliman University Medical School, regardless of their gender,

either male or female. The survey questionnaires was drafted requesting for their time to

take parts and contributions for the betterment of the study. The researchers guarantee

that any information offered will not affect the participant in any way and will be treated

with the utmost confidentiality. The respondents are chosen via random sampling.
Research Instruments

The instruments to be used in this research will be survey-questionnaires. The

researchers will prepare clear and on point questions for the respondents to answer freely

and easily. These questions are answerable by YES or NO and multiple choice questions

about the factors prompting students to choose the field of medicine. The researchers

make sure that the surveys are quick and easy to answer, but with that, the researchers

can still collect important information for this research to be successful.

Data Collection Procedure

Once the proposal is approved, giving out of survey questionnaires to the

respondents will be done immediately by the researchers. Once the survey questionnaires

are receive back, the researchers will immediately tally the results. Datas that are relevant

to the study will be gathered personally by the researchers.

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