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Prevalence of Premedical Syndrome in the Bachelor of Health Sciences and Arts & Sciences Programs at McMaster University
Author(s) -
Cheng Joyce,
Poon Eugenia,
Rodrigues Melanie
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.766.10
Subject(s) - bachelor , prestige , the arts , medical education , biomedical sciences , medicine , set (abstract data type) , family medicine , psychology , nursing , philosophy , linguistics , archaeology , political science , computer science , law , history , programming language
BACKGROUND: The premedical syndrome is a set of characteristics consistent with some, but not all, students whose goal is to enter medical school. These characteristics include excessive competitiveness, unsociability, high motivation, and grade consciousness. METHODS: We administered a quantitative cross‐sectional survey to 175 first‐year Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) students and 49 first‐year Arts and Sciences (A&S) students. Entrance to these programs is competitive and students in both show considerable interest in entering medical schools. We sought to explore attitudes and behaviors related to characteristics of premedical syndrome. RESULTS: Suggest that BHSc students are more likely to demonstrate attributes consistent with the syndrome. They devoted less time to social and extracurricular activities, were more likely to choose medicine as their future career choice at a much earlier age, and based the choice on income and prestige. CONCLUSION: Though the premedical syndrome is more prevalent in BHSc students than those in A&S, the precise reasons need further study.