Int J Med Educ. 2013;4:26-37. doi: 10.5116/ijme.5103.a8d3.

The undergraduate premedical experience in the United States: a critical review.

International journal of medical education

Katherine Y Lin, Sonali Parnami, Andrea Fuhrel-Forbis, Renee R Anspach, Brett Crawford, Raymond G De Vries

PMID: 23951400 PMCID: PMC3742104 DOI: 10.5116/ijme.5103.a8d3

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the consequences of the premedical years for the character of (future) physicians by critically reviewing the empirical research done on the undergraduate premedical experience in the United States.

METHODS: We searched ERIC, JSTOR, PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and PsycINFO from the earliest available date for empirical, peer-reviewed studies of premedical students in the United States. We then used qualitative methods to uncover overall themes present in this literature.

RESULTS: The initial literature search identified 1,168 articles, 19 of which were included for review. Reviewed articles were published between 1976 and 2010 with the majority published prior to 1990. Articles covered two broad topics: explaining attrition from the premedical track, and investigating the personality traits and stereotypes of premedical students. Self-selection bias and high attrition rates were among the limitations of the reviewed articles.

CONCLUSIONS: There is very little current research on the premedical experience. Given the importance of the premedical years on the process of becoming a medical professional, it is imperative that we do more and better research on how the premedical experience shapes future physicians.

Keywords: Premedical education; attrition from premedical track; hidden curriculum; premedical syndrome; professionalization

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Publication Types

• Journal Article

Grant support

• R24 HD041028/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States
• T32 AG000221/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States