What Will You Be Like Doctor 'Z'? - The Results Of Research On Medical Students In Poland

Medical universities in Poland are attended by students who are representatives of generation 'Z'. The first doctors of this generation are also preparing to enter the labour market. Academic literature as well as business practice provide evidence that the generation 'Z' differs significantly in many respects from representatives of generations 'Y', 'X' and 'Baby Boomers'. The purpose of this paper is to recognize the life values, motivations and expectations of future doctors who are representatives of generation 'Z'. These factors determined their choice of medical studies and the decision to practice medicine.The authors of this paper used two research methods. In the theoretical part the applied method consisted in analyzing Polish and foreign state-of-the-art. In the empirical part the authors used the results of the survey conducted among final year medical students at the Wroclaw Medical University, Poland. The study was conducted in the second quarter of 2017 (n = 152) and in 2018 (n = 170). The obtained results allowed the authors to outline the profile of the future doctor 'Z'. The profile shows that individuals who are preparing themselves for the role of doctors are very different from representatives of previous generations. They have a different hierarchy of values and are guided by different needs and motivations. They exhibit a different approach to learning, work, leisure or development, etc. Gathering and using the knowledge on this subject is very important for health educators, policy planners and makers and health workforce managers.