Reasons and motives for selecting major of medical education as post-graduate course: a qualitative study

The reasons for choosing a field of study, depending on the type of discipline and degree, are different. This study aims to explore the reasons of choosing and continuing post-graduate major in medical education from viewpoint of students and graduates.
This qualitative research was conducted using content analysis method. Purposeful sampling was used for data collection. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 post-graduation alumnus or students who were studying master degree of medical education.
According to the results, choosing post-graduate major in medical education for continuing education was due to for main themes; "personal elements" including scientific-personality growth, specific motivators, and unspecific motivators; "systematic elements" including occupational requirements, career escaping, examination escaping, and essence and implementation process of educational programs and "social elements" including credentialism.
Although many factors play role in making decision to continue studying inmedical education, considering the diversity of factors such as entrance without an examination and ease of entry conditions in comparison with other disciplines, it seems that a review of the criteria and admission process in this program is required.