Factors influencing medical students career intentions in Flanders, Estonia and Hungary: a multivariable analysis.

Background: The career decisions of medical students are pivotal in shaping the future healthcare workforce. In many countries, the number of medical students who choose general practice (GP) as their career is insufficient to meet the needs of the healthcare system.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the factors influencing medical students' career intentions and their preference for a career in GP.

Design & setting: A cross-sectional study involving medical students from Flanders (Belgium), Estonia and Hungary.

Method: An online questionnaire was used to gather data. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted.

Results: Altogether 1601 medical students participated in this study. 18.5% of the participants were interested in GP. Factors related to medical students and the curriculum which predicted the interest in GP were being a woman, being a medical student from Flanders, being a 6th year medical student, coming from a rural area and having GP role models. Students preferring GP named the following factors as important: short and low intensity training program, having long-term and close relationship with patients, continuity of care, regular and flexible working hours and opportunities to achieve work-life balance.

Conclusion: This study adds further evidence which characteristics and factors can predict medical students' interest in GP, having GP role models being the most important predictor. Further research into which qualities medical students value in their role models could give us better understanding on how we can support GPs to be better advocates for their specialty and thereby help increase interest in GP.