Attitudes of medical students in Croatia toward rural medicine education and practice
IntroductionRecruiting and retaining doctors in rural areas is challenging. In Croatia, medical school curricula lack content on rural medicine and specialized training for rural practice. This study explores the opinions and attitudes of first- and sixth-year medical students in all four medical sc...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1485790/full |
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| author | Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić Ivana Radić Nina Bašić Marković Nina Bašić Marković Toni Vrgoč Maja Buljubašić |
| author_facet | Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić Ivana Radić Nina Bašić Marković Nina Bašić Marković Toni Vrgoč Maja Buljubašić |
| author_sort | Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionRecruiting and retaining doctors in rural areas is challenging. In Croatia, medical school curricula lack content on rural medicine and specialized training for rural practice. This study explores the opinions and attitudes of first- and sixth-year medical students in all four medical schools in Croatia regarding working in rural areas.MethodsAn online questionnaire was administered to Croatian medical students in their first and final years between January 2022 and February 2023. Responses were obtained from 690 participants from the Universities of Osijek, Rijeka, Split, and Zagreb. The cross-sectional study included 13 questions, with 5 on socio-demographic data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (chi-square) to assess group differences.ResultsCompared to first-year students, final-year students feel less prepared by their education for rural practice (χ2 = 84.287; P = 0.000) but are more interested in working in rural areas (χ2 = 26.810; P = 0.000). Most students believe rural doctors need additional financial incentives, with this belief significantly stronger among final-year students (χ2 = 14.192; P = 0.000). Both groups agree that rural doctors face poor working conditions (χ2 = 1.524; P = 0.217). No statistically significant differences were found regarding job interest outside city centers (χ2 = 2.041; P = 0.564) or choosing rural medical practice (χ2 = 4.795; P = 0.187) among medical students from the Universities of Osijek, Rijeka, Split, and Zagreb. Students from rural settlements were more often interested in jobs outside the city center (72.1%) compared to those from smaller towns (60.6%), [χ2(1) = 5.142, p = 0.023] and larger cities (44.1%), [χ2(1) = 28.978, p = 0.000].ConclusionAlthough Croatian medical students show interest in working in rural areas, their education lacks sufficient preparation for the unique challenges of rural practice. They view the current conditions for rural doctors as inadequate and believe that additional financial incentives are necessary. Interest in rural practice is consistent across medical faculties in Croatia, with students living in rural areas showing a higher interest in working there. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7424f71d34ec45689f15321c77dec605 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-7424f71d34ec45689f15321c77dec6052025-02-07T06:49:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-02-011210.3389/fmed.2025.14857901485790Attitudes of medical students in Croatia toward rural medicine education and practiceNataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić0Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić1Ivana Radić2Nina Bašić Marković3Nina Bašić Marković4Toni Vrgoč5Maja Buljubašić6Specialist Practice in Family Medicine Postira Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić, Postira, Island of Brač, CroatiaDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Split, Split, CroatiaEthos, Consultancy and Education Business, Algebra University College, Zagreb, CroatiaInstitution for Primary Health Care Srdoči, Rijeka, CroatiaFaculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, CroatiaSpecialist Practice in Family Medicine Postira Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić, Postira, Island of Brač, CroatiaOrdinacija Obiteljske Medicine Maja Buljubašić, Zagreb, CroatiaIntroductionRecruiting and retaining doctors in rural areas is challenging. In Croatia, medical school curricula lack content on rural medicine and specialized training for rural practice. This study explores the opinions and attitudes of first- and sixth-year medical students in all four medical schools in Croatia regarding working in rural areas.MethodsAn online questionnaire was administered to Croatian medical students in their first and final years between January 2022 and February 2023. Responses were obtained from 690 participants from the Universities of Osijek, Rijeka, Split, and Zagreb. The cross-sectional study included 13 questions, with 5 on socio-demographic data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (chi-square) to assess group differences.ResultsCompared to first-year students, final-year students feel less prepared by their education for rural practice (χ2 = 84.287; P = 0.000) but are more interested in working in rural areas (χ2 = 26.810; P = 0.000). Most students believe rural doctors need additional financial incentives, with this belief significantly stronger among final-year students (χ2 = 14.192; P = 0.000). Both groups agree that rural doctors face poor working conditions (χ2 = 1.524; P = 0.217). No statistically significant differences were found regarding job interest outside city centers (χ2 = 2.041; P = 0.564) or choosing rural medical practice (χ2 = 4.795; P = 0.187) among medical students from the Universities of Osijek, Rijeka, Split, and Zagreb. Students from rural settlements were more often interested in jobs outside the city center (72.1%) compared to those from smaller towns (60.6%), [χ2(1) = 5.142, p = 0.023] and larger cities (44.1%), [χ2(1) = 28.978, p = 0.000].ConclusionAlthough Croatian medical students show interest in working in rural areas, their education lacks sufficient preparation for the unique challenges of rural practice. They view the current conditions for rural doctors as inadequate and believe that additional financial incentives are necessary. Interest in rural practice is consistent across medical faculties in Croatia, with students living in rural areas showing a higher interest in working there.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1485790/fullrural medicinefamily doctorfamily medicinerural curriculummedical students |
| spellingShingle | Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić Nataša Mrduljaš-Ðujić Ivana Radić Nina Bašić Marković Nina Bašić Marković Toni Vrgoč Maja Buljubašić Attitudes of medical students in Croatia toward rural medicine education and practice Frontiers in Medicine rural medicine family doctor family medicine rural curriculum medical students |
| title | Attitudes of medical students in Croatia toward rural medicine education and practice |
| title_full | Attitudes of medical students in Croatia toward rural medicine education and practice |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes of medical students in Croatia toward rural medicine education and practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes of medical students in Croatia toward rural medicine education and practice |
| title_short | Attitudes of medical students in Croatia toward rural medicine education and practice |
| title_sort | attitudes of medical students in croatia toward rural medicine education and practice |
| topic | rural medicine family doctor family medicine rural curriculum medical students |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1485790/full |
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