abstract: 'Objective. To determine which factors influence a medical student''s

  decision to choose a career in primary care; and to establish if these

  factors are similar or different among students in high-, middle-and

  low-income countries.

  Methods. An extensive search was done of PubMed, Google Scholar, and

  Virtual Library of Health for articles on primary care careers published

  in 2003-2013 in English, Spanish, and/or Portuguese. Initially, 600

  records were identified; 74 full-text articles were assessed for

  eligibility and 55 were selected (42 from high-income countries; 13 from

  middle-and low-income). These were assessed to identify intrinsic and

  extrinsic factors that influence career choice among medical students

  from high-, middle-, and low-income countries.

  Results. A comparison framework with common and specific factors that

  influence career choice in primary care among medical students from

  high-, middle-and low-income was developed. Factors were classified as

  extrinsic or intrinsic, and as facilitators or barriers. Several factors

  common to all countries were identified: facilitators were exposure to

  rural location, role models, working conditions; barriers were low

  income, prestige, and medical school environment. Some factors specific

  to middle-and low-income countries were: understanding of rural needs

  and intellectual challenge. Other factors specific to high-income

  countries were: attitude towards social problems, voluntary work,

  influence of family, and length of residency.

  Conclusions. Further studies on the subject are needed, especially in

  low-and middle-income countries. Identifying factors as barriers or

  facilitators for career choice will promote a better understanding of

  the reasons behind the shortage of primary care professionals and will

  contribute to policy building, improved training, and recruitment and

  retention of these professionals.'
affiliation: 'Puertas, EB (Corresponding Author), Pan Amer Hlth Org, Tegucigalpa,
  Honduras.

  Benjamin Puertas, E., Pan Amer Hlth Org, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

  Arosquipa, Carlos; Gutierrez, Daniela, Pan Amer Hlth Org, Lima, Peru.'
author: Benjamin Puertas, E. and Arosquipa, Carlos and Gutierrez, Daniela
author-email: puertasb@paho.org
author_list:
- family: Benjamin Puertas
  given: E.
- family: Arosquipa
  given: Carlos
- family: Gutierrez
  given: Daniela
da: '2023-09-28'
files: []
issn: 1020-4989
journal: 'REVISTA PANAMERICANA DE SALUD PUBLICA-PAN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC

  HEALTH'
keywords: Career choice; students; medical; primary health care; human resources
keywords-plus: 'FAMILY MEDICINE; SPECIALTY CHOICE; RURAL PRACTICE; PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE;

  LIFE-STYLE; DEBT; UNIVERSITIES; ASSOCIATIONS; PERSONALITY; PREFERENCE'
language: English
month: NOV
number: '5'
number-of-cited-references: '57'
orcid-numbers: 'González-Rodríguez, Diego/0000-0001-7584-9103

  Puertas, Eduardo Benjamin/0000-0002-3886-7182'
pages: 351-358
papis_id: 0b7ff3e8dfd74fe9301d04516f116258
ref: Benjaminpuertas2013factorsthat
researcherid-numbers: 'González-Rodríguez, Diego/F-3425-2016

  '
tags:
- review
times-cited: '59'
title: 'Factors that influence a career choice in primary care among medical students
  from high-, middle-, and low-income countries: a systematic review'
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000332036500008
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '27'
volume: '34'
web-of-science-categories: Public, Environmental \& Occupational Health
year: '2013'