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Abstract: This study used social cognitive career theory (), as a framework to investigate predictors of career choice actions, operationalised as career planning and career exploration. The model was tested cross-sectionally and longitudinally with 631 high school students enrolled in Grades 10–12. Students completed measures of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals, supports and personality. Results of the hierarchical regression analyses indicated strong support for self-efficacy and goals predicting career planning and exploration across all grades at T1, and predicting change in career planning and exploration from T1 to T2. Whilst support for pathways among other predictor variables (personality, contextual influences and biographic variables) to choice actions was found, these pathways varied across grades at T1, and also from T1 to T2. Implications for social cognitive career theory, career counselling practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Identify the most important factors associated with choosing rural medical practice. Design: Cross-sectional design using a web survey to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Participants: One hundred and ninety junior doctors - 91 interns, 99 PGY2. Main outcome measures: Choice of practice location (urban/rural), reason for choosing location, enticement to a rural location. Results: Twenty-seven per cent of junior doctors preferred a rural practice location. Preference to practice in a rural area was associated with medical placement bonding schemes, rural background, rural placement experience and being older. High levels of professional expectations and prestige were associated with a preference for an urban location. The most important reasons for choosing a practice location included consideration of partner, family and friends (35.3%), preference for a location (20.5%), lifestyle goals (19.5%) and career opportunities, specialty requirements and infrastructure (17.9%). Those who preferred an urban compared with a rural location gave more importance to factors concerning partner, family and friends. The factors that would entice a doctor to a rural location included partner and family considerations (27.0%), professional support (20.3%), and career opportunities, specialty requirements and infrastructure (16.3%). Women gave more importance to partner and family factors than men. Conclusions: Our findings support the continuation of policies that are known to encourage choice of rural practice, but highlight the need for additional strategies that consider the personal and professional needs of this generation of doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the association between career ambitions and career decision-making attitudes of the Australian medical students. It notes that 231 students from six medical schools across five Australian territories participated and completed the said study. Moreover, it also mentions the methods used and the result of the study.