Do physicians’ children perform differently in medical education? A multi-center field study in China

作者：Ruixi Qin, Jiajia Li, Liangru Zhou, Ruifeng Li · 发表于：BMC Medical Education · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12909-025-07053-6 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Innovations in Medical Education、Empathy and Medical Education、Diversity and Career in Medicine

BACKGROUND: Intergenerational transmission refers to the transfer of occupations, knowledge, or skills across generations. There is a consensus in the medical field that children of doctors are more likely to want to become doctors and that doctors from medical families are more likely to be trusted by their patients. This study explores the current state of intergenerational transmission in Chinese medical universities and its impact on students' academic and professional development, which towards more supportive policies for medical manpower development in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: A survey was conducted among 434 students at the universities of Chinese medicine in Beijing and Nanjing. This study assessed the prevalence of intergenerational transmission and its influence on student competencies in medical thinking, practice, and innovation. RESULTS: Approximately 18.66% of the students reported intergenerational inheritance of medicine, with 10.37% from direct lineage, 5.07% from collateral lineage, and 3.23% from other relatives. A majority (77.88%) of the respondents believed that doctors' family backgrounds positively impacted the learning and growth of medical students. Students with direct or collateral intergenerational inheritance demonstrated significantly higher innovation ability ([Formula: see text]=12.28, p < 0.05) and medical thinking skills (Coefficient = 9.52,p < 0.05) compared to those without such backgrounds. Regional factors and family i...