Keywords
Medical students
Employment
Structural equation model
Long-term mechanism
Submitted : 2025-03-08
Accepted : 2025-03-23
Published : 2025-04-07
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.
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