Keywords
Medical students
Employment
Structural equation model
Long-term mechanism
Submitted : 2025-03-04
Accepted : 2025-03-19
Published : 2025-04-03
Abstract
As urbanization has increased, the supply-demand gap for rural medical care has expanded, making rural revival harder. This study used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Benefit-Risk Theory model to identify attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, perceived benefits, and perceived risks as influencing medical students’ willingness to return home for work. For the survey questionnaire, eight hypotheses were proposed. The study’s analysis of 528 valid questionnaires found that most medical students dislike going back to their hometowns for work, that improving rural conditions can encourage them to return, and that some who are willing to do so are not interested in healthcare. These data support all eight theories. After investigating medical students’ unwillingness to return home for employment, the study found that the government, medical institutions, the education sector, and medical students all affect the five elements. This study offers specific solutions to encourage medical students to return to their hometowns to revitalize rural healthcare.
References
Sun J, Liu YT, Sun HL, 2023, Study on the Dilemma and Countermeasures of Medical Students Returning to their Hometowns for Employment under the Background of Rural Revitalization. Intelligent Agriculture Guide, 3(20): 106–109. https://doi.org/10.20028/j.zhnydk.2023.20.025
Du YM, Xie J, Liang XY, et al., 2023, Study on Medical Students’ Willingness to Return to their Hometowns for Employment and Countermeasures in the Context of Rural Revitalization: Taking a Medical University in Hebei as an Example. Modern Medicine, 51(S1): 124–129.
Wu X, 2021, Research on Rural Higher Vocational Students’ Willingness to Return to their Hometowns for Employment under the Background of Rural Revitalization, thesis, Sichuan Agricultural University. https://doi.org/10.27345/d.cnki.gsnyu.2021.000105
Zhang HX, 2023, Research on the Influencing Factors of College Students’ Rural Employment Willingness in the Context of Rural Revitalization Strategy. China Light Industry Education, 26(6): 41–51.
Johnson G, Foster K, Blinkhorn A, et al., 2020, Rural Clinical School Dental Graduates’ Views on Rural and Metropolitan Employment. European Journal of Dental Education, 24(4): 741–752. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12564
Zheng YF, Wang ZY, Huang ZF, 2023, The Current Situation and Countermeasures of Medical Students Returning to their Hometowns for Employment in the Post-epidemic Period: An Example of 1,078 Medical Graduates from 90 Counties and Districts in Zhejiang Province. Journal of Wenzhou Medical University, 53(1): 84–87.
Seaman CE, Green E, Freire K, 2022, Effect of Rural Clinical Placements on Intention to Practice and Employment in Rural Australia: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9): 5363. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095363
Zhuang W, 2011, Building a Telemedicine Service System and Integrating High-quality Resources to Benefit the Countryside: GE Healthcare Tele-Med Helps Beihang Third Hospital to Implement Telemedicine. China Hospital Chief Executive, 2011(18): 78–79.
Yang DP, 2022, Practical Paths and Countermeasures of Digital Enabling Rural Revitalization to Achieve Common Wealth. China Soft Science, 2022(S1): 71–75.
Sun YB, 2018, Exploration of Social Integration Problems of Rural Nationality College Students Returning to their Hometowns for Employment and Entrepreneurship under the Strategy of Rural Revitalization. Agricultural Economy, 2018(7): 110–112.