Medical Student Characteristics and Intent to Work with the Underserved: A study conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Using demographic data and a questionnaire developed by the Education for Lifelong Service program that was administered to first year medical students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, this study examined student characteristics that are associated with an expressed intent to serve the underserved population after completion of medical school through the following two research questions: Research Question #1: To determine if associations exist between the primary outcome statement from the Education for Lifelong Service pre-intervention survey "When I am in practice, I would like to work at least half of my time with underserved populations" and data extracted from both the Education for Lifelong Service and demographic surveys including attitudes towards the underserved, gender, race, marital status, previous experience with the underserved, preferred specialty choice, and expected debt load upon completion of medical school. Research Question #2: To determine if any associations exist between the secondary outcome statements from the Education for Lifelong Service preintervention survey "I plan to practice in a rural area," and "I plan to regularly provide medical care as a volunteer when I am in practice" and data extracted from both the Education for Lifelong Service and demographic surveys including attitudes towards the underserved, gender, race, marital status, previous experience with the underserved, preferred specialty choice, and expected debt load upon completion of medical school. If an association between certain student characteristics and intent to serve does in fact exist, then this study may ultimately assist medical school admissions committees in creating policies that will better capture students who are more committed to working with the underserved. In addition, this study could also assist curricula development committees in creating service-learning programs, rotations, and classes that could develop as well as promote a student's interest in working with underserved populations.Master of Public Healt

1999 - 2001 Bulletin

Loma Linda UniversitySchool of MedicineBulletin 1999-2001 Volume 89, Number 2, July 30, 2000https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/sm_bulletin/1002/thumbnail.jp

2001 - 2003 Bulletin

Loma Linda UniversityBulletin of the School of Medicine2001-2003 Volume 91, Number 5, June 30, 2003https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/sm_bulletin/1001/thumbnail.jp

'Time to find a new freedom': TOMNET and Men’s Sheds - meeting older men’s contributive needs in regions within South East and South West Queensland, Australia?

'Time to find a new freedom' refers to one older man’s philosophy on retirement. This thesis examined the effectiveness of two male-only organisations in South-East and South-West Queensland, Australia – TOMNET and Men’s Sheds – in fulfilling older men’s (aged 50 years and over) contributive needs in retirement. An examination of the degree to which these two organisations provided a framework for realising positive solutions to the issues surrounding the marginalisation of older men in the community was conducted. The three research questions focused on the implementation of programs and philosophies by the organisational leadership, the engagement of the membership in these programs and the future sustainability of each group. Contemporary ageing studies have focused predominantly on the needs of women and younger and middle-aged men. Scant research has been conducted into ageing and the specific needs of older men as they engage with retirement. Building on the scholarship of Maslow (1943, 1962, 1970, 1971), McClusky (1974, 1976) and other noted sociologists, I developed the Older Men’s Contributive Needs and Identity Framework as the study’s conceptual framework. This qualitative, interpretive, multi-site case study research presented an analysis of the lived experiences and multiple truths of older men’s ageing experiences. The research was conducted in three phases: 1) a Likert scale survey that elicited 268 respondents; 2) 29 semi-structured interviews; and 3) six focus groups with a total of 48 participants. The accompanying data analysis identified categories of responses and resultant themes clustered around the three research questions. My contribution to theoretical knowledge can be found in the investigation of multiple data sources that led to the creation of the Older Men’s Contributive Needs and Identity Framework. This framework enhances contemporary understandings of ageing, acknowledges the importance of contributive needs and can be applied to both genders. My contribution to methodological knowledge was demonstrated in the design and implementation of an ethical, respectful and reciprocal research process applicable to older men. This study’s contribution to policy knowledge included the awareness raised by considering older men, ageing and suicide as a wicked problem. The study’s contribution to practice knowledge targeted three tiers. At the macro level, this thesis added new knowledge to this understudied age and gender group despite this group’s ongoing overrepresentation in suicide statistics. At the meso level, this thesis generated new understandings around the issues surrounding ageing and older men. At the micro level, knowledge about TOMNET and Men’s Sheds provided insights into the social understandings of not only this demographic but also other marginalised cohorts within the community