Effect of a second-year primary care preceptorship on medical students' career plans

Abstract

Background: Preceptorships with community physicians have been incorporated into medical curricula to foster interest in generalist careers. An evaluation of our preceptorship program was undertaken to determine this influence.

Methods: Students were asked about career interests before and after a second-year community preceptorship. When graduating, those students entering primary-care residencies were surveyed to validate whether they planned to become generalist or specialist. Associations between career choice at graduation and career interest before and after the preceptorship were examined.

Results: Of 73 students who maintained a generalist career plan after the community preceptorship, 57 (78%) continued with the same at graduation. After the preceptorship, 70 students reported a change in career interest toward generalism, compared with 9 who reported an interest in specialism. A significant relationship was found between career interest change and career choice at graduation.

Conclusion: Our community preceptorship had a modest impact in stimulating students to consider generalist careers.