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JRUMS 2026, 24(12): 1149-1166 |
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Ethics code: IR.RUMS.REC.1403.104
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Ahmadinia H, Soorasrafil A, Hemmati A, Rezaeian M. Expected Economic Returns of General and Specialized Medical Education among Medical Students at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2024:
A Descriptive Study. JRUMS 2026; 24 (12) :1149-1166
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7919-en.html
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7919-en.html
-Prof., Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Occupational Environment Research Center, Medical School, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
Abstract: (18 Views)
Background and Objectives: Studying medicine is costly and time-consuming, and the decision to enter this field is based on economic analysis. The aim of this study was to determine the expected economic return of medical students from studying general medicine and medical specialties at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2024.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 325 general medicine students. Data were collected using a questionnaire based on the standard version of Hackman and Oldham (with validity and reliability confirmed in Iran). Independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis.
Results: The results showed that the expected economic return of the specialty program compared to the general medicine program was higher in men (0.55±0.34) than inwomen (0.45±0.24) (p=0.001), and the expected return of the specialty program compared to a bachelor's degree was higher in men (1.10±0.64) than in women (0.91±0.62) (p=0.026). Furthermore, regarding the expected economic return, the following factors were associated: type of specialty (p=0.049) and father's age (p=0.009) for specialty versus general medicine; age (p=0.049) and monthly family income (p=0.038) for specialty versus bachelor's degree; student employment status (p=0.033) and educational cost burden (p=0.035) for specialty versus self‑employment; and type of education (p=0.015) for general medicine versus bachelor's degree.
Conclusion: Medical students pay attention to economic analysis in their educational decisions, and the assessment of future income is one of the important factors in choosing their educational path. Attention to these factors can be useful for policymakers in managing the admission capacity of medical fields and designing the payment system in the health sector.
Keywords: Economic return, Internal rate of return, Human capital, General medicine, Medical specialty
Funding: This study did not have any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical considerations: The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences approved the study (IR.RUMS.REC.1403.104).
Authors’ contributions:
- Conceptualization: Mohsen Rezaeian
- Methodology: Aghdas Sourasrafil, Hassan Ahmadinia
- Data collection: Atena Hemmati, Aghdas Sourasrafil
- Formal analysis: Hassan Ahmadinia, Aghdas Sourasrafil
- Supervision: Mohsen Rezaeian
- Project administration: Mohsen Rezaeian
- Writing – original draft: Atena Hemmati
- Writing – review & editing: Hassan Ahmadinia, Aghdas Sourasrafil
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 325 general medicine students. Data were collected using a questionnaire based on the standard version of Hackman and Oldham (with validity and reliability confirmed in Iran). Independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis.
Results: The results showed that the expected economic return of the specialty program compared to the general medicine program was higher in men (0.55±0.34) than inwomen (0.45±0.24) (p=0.001), and the expected return of the specialty program compared to a bachelor's degree was higher in men (1.10±0.64) than in women (0.91±0.62) (p=0.026). Furthermore, regarding the expected economic return, the following factors were associated: type of specialty (p=0.049) and father's age (p=0.009) for specialty versus general medicine; age (p=0.049) and monthly family income (p=0.038) for specialty versus bachelor's degree; student employment status (p=0.033) and educational cost burden (p=0.035) for specialty versus self‑employment; and type of education (p=0.015) for general medicine versus bachelor's degree.
Conclusion: Medical students pay attention to economic analysis in their educational decisions, and the assessment of future income is one of the important factors in choosing their educational path. Attention to these factors can be useful for policymakers in managing the admission capacity of medical fields and designing the payment system in the health sector.
Keywords: Economic return, Internal rate of return, Human capital, General medicine, Medical specialty
Funding: This study did not have any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical considerations: The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences approved the study (IR.RUMS.REC.1403.104).
Authors’ contributions:
- Conceptualization: Mohsen Rezaeian
- Methodology: Aghdas Sourasrafil, Hassan Ahmadinia
- Data collection: Atena Hemmati, Aghdas Sourasrafil
- Formal analysis: Hassan Ahmadinia, Aghdas Sourasrafil
- Supervision: Mohsen Rezaeian
- Project administration: Mohsen Rezaeian
- Writing – original draft: Atena Hemmati
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Citation: Ahmadinia H, Souresrafil A, Hemmati A, Rezaeian M. Expected Economic Returns of General and Specialized Medical Education among Medical Students at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2024: A Descriptive Study. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2026; 24 (12): 1149-66. [Farsi]
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Keywords: Economic return, Internal rate of return, Human capital, General medicine, Medical specialty
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
مديريت و اطلاع رساني پزشكي
Received: 2025/12/19 | Accepted: 2026/05/20 | Published: 2026/05/20
Received: 2025/12/19 | Accepted: 2026/05/20 | Published: 2026/05/20
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