Introduction: Since 2010, the Chinese government has been introducing selective admission policy to recruit rural students for 5-year western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine undergraduate education in order to improve rural townships' medical services system in western China. This study aimed to analyse the selective admission policy in western China from the perspective of medical students' attitudes towards rural career choice.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted and an anonymous questionnaire was used to investigate a sample of medical undergraduates chosen under the selective admission policy.
Results: The results indicate that medical undergraduates' enthusiasm to work in rural areas was very limited in Gansu province, western China. Extrinsic motivation played a more important role in rural career choice than intrinsic motivation. The students' attitudes were affected by socioeconomic and cultural conditions, which determined their personal and professional environment. Course major and family economic conditions were associated with their self-decisions.
Conclusion: Further educational intervention should emphasise the students' humanistic inner qualities and recognition of professional value. Further policy adjustment should considered, for example improving social policy-based regional character and national development strategies.
Keywords: health and human resources; health care; medical undergraduates; selective admission policy; China.