The experiences of medical students from First-in-Family (FiF) university backgrounds: a Bourdieusian perspective from one English medical school

ABSTRACT

This study explored the perspectives of medical students from first-in-family (FiF) university backgrounds. Semi-structured interviews focused on steps into, and experiences of medical education, and effects of student identity on social networks. Twenty FiF medical students from one English medical school took part in qualitative interviews. Data was thematically analysed using Bourdieu’s forms of capital. This research built on an earlier Australian study as part of an international collaboration. The results showed that secondary school/college financial resources for the application to medical school were variable. Medical school was a financial challenge and paid work impacted on academic learning and students’ health. Not having access to medical contacts was a barrier to school work experience and for the medical school application. A lack of cultural capital meant that participants struggled with the medical degree application. Social networks increased at university; however, there was a division along the lines of educational background. Becoming a medical student had an effect on social relationships for many students ambivalent about their new status. Forms of capital were central to participants’ experiences. While financial challenges and work experience barriers need addressing, FiF medical student mentors can play an important role in widening participation.

KEYWORDS:

• Bourdieusian framework
• First-in-Family medical student
• undergraduate medical education
• qualitative method

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all the students who participated in the study. Thank you also to Dr Sarah Wright, Toronto East General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Azelle Egbe and Kapila Adisha of the Medical Student Association (MSA); Dr Steve Thompson; Dr Jane Valentine; Dr Despo Papachristodoulou; Ms Ruth Sugden; Dr Kathleen Leedham-Green and; Dr Richard Phillips.

Compliance with ethical standards

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethics standards of King’s College London, ‘Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Dentistry & Mathematical Sciences Research Ethics Sub-Committee’ (BDM RESC), Review Reference LRS-16/17-3885, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethics standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by one medical school in England.

Notes on contributors

Andrew M. Bassett

Andrew M. Bassett, PgDip, MA, MA, PhD, is Lead Researcher in the Department of Inflammation Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London.

Caragh Brosnan

Caragh Brosnan, PhD, is Senior Lecturer in Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Science, The University of Newcastle, Australia.

Erica Southgate

Erica Southgate, PhD, is Associate Professor, School of Education, The University of Newcastle, Australia.

Heidi Lempp

Heidi Lempp, MSc, PhD, is Reader in Medical Sociology, Academic Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London.