title: Variation in personality traits of medical students between schools of medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While there have been studies exploring the impact of personality on medical student selection and performance there has not been an investigation of the personality of students at different schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic data and responses to the NEO measure of personality traits were collected from medical students in the first two weeks of their enrolment (2011) in seven medical schools in Australia. Personality traits were analysed by school features, gender and age using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences were detected between schools in the personality traits of Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. Higher Agreeableness and Conscientiousness were associated with attending an Undergraduate school (OR = 1.07 and 1.03, respectively) and a rural or community focussed school (1.06 and 1.03). Students attending a school that used interviews for selection had higher levels of Agreeableness (1.04) and lower levels of Neuroticism (0.96).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to demonstrate that personality traits differ between students entering different medical schools. While there seems to be logic behind some differences, others are perplexing. Further research should expand on these findings and the implications to schools in regards to attracting students through selection processes, mission statements and their broader social focus.
authors.affiliation: University of Wollongong , Australia.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.forename: Diann
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eley
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corrigan
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stagg
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D006801:Humans; D010551:Personality; D057766:Policy; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012570:School Admission Criteria / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*