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      Factors influencing Saudi medical students and interns’ choice of future specialty: a self-administered questionnaire

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          Abstract

          Background

          This study explores the most influential factors affecting Saudi medical students and interns’ choice of specialty at the University of Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

          Methods

          A self-administered questionnaire was distributed during the period from June 1 to June 14, 2013. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to test the association between participants’ choices and the motivational factors that led to their choice of specialty.

          Results

          One-hundred sixty-eight (44.7%) participants chose lifestyle as their most influential factor for the choice of their specialty. Significantly more medical interns considered lifestyle as an important factor compared to medical students ( P=0.020). Internal medicine was the preferred specialty for 56 participants (14.77%) followed by family medicine for 35 participants (9.2%). Thirty-four participants (8.97%) chose general surgery, and 27 participants (7.1%) chose both pediatrics and emergency medicine. Sex influences indicated that men preferred pediatrics and emergency medicine ( P=0.033 and P=0.0006, respectively), while women preferred family medicine practice ( P=0.034).

          Conclusion

          Saudi medical students and interns at the University of Dammam were influenced mostly by lifestyle when they considered their future specialty. Internal medicine, family medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and emergency medicine were the preferred specialties.

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          Influence of controllable lifestyle on recent trends in specialty choice by US medical students.

          E Dorsey, David Jarjoura, Gregory W Rutecki (2003)
          Recent specialty choices of graduating US medical students suggest that lifestyle may be an increasingly important factor in their career decision making. To determine whether and to what degree controllable lifestyle and other specialty-related characteristics are associated with recent (1996-2002) changes in the specialty preferences of US senior medical students. Specialty preference was based on analysis of results from the National Resident Matching Program, the San Francisco Matching Program, and the American Urological Association Matching Program from 1996 to 2002. Specialty lifestyle (controllable vs uncontrollable) was classified using earlier research. Log-linear models were developed that examined specialty preference and the specialty's controllability, income, work hours, and years of graduate medical education required. Proportion of variability in specialty preference from 1996 to 2002 explained by controllable lifestyle. The specialty preferences of US senior medical students, as determined by the distribution of applicants across selected specialties, changed significantly from 1996 to 2002 (P<.001). In the log-linear model, controllable lifestyle explained 55% of the variability in specialty preference from 1996 to 2002 after controlling for income, work hours, and years of graduate medical education required (P<.001). Perception of controllable lifestyle accounts for most of the variability in recent changing patterns in the specialty choices of graduating US medical students.
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            Factors associated with medical students' career choices regarding internal medicine.

            Karen E. Hauer, Steven Durning, Walter Kernan … (2008)
            Shortfalls in the US physician workforce are anticipated as the population ages and medical students' interest in careers in internal medicine (IM) has declined (particularly general IM, the primary specialty serving older adults). The factors influencing current students' career choices regarding IM are unclear. To describe medical students' career decision making regarding IM and to identify modifiable factors related to this decision making. Web-based cross-sectional survey of 1177 fourth-year medical students (82% response rate) at 11 US medical schools in spring 2007. Demographics, debt, educational experiences, and number who chose or considered IM careers were measured. Factor analysis was performed to assess influences on career chosen. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess independent association of variables with IM career choice. Of 1177 respondents, 274 (23.2%) planned careers in IM, including 24 (2.0%) in general IM. Only 228 (19.4%) responded that their core IM clerkship made a career in general IM seem more attractive, whereas 574 (48.8%) responded that it made a career in subspecialty IM more attractive. Three factors influenced career choice regarding IM: educational experiences in IM, the nature of patient care in IM, and lifestyle. Students were more likely to pursue careers in IM if they were male (odds ratio [OR] 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-2.56), were attending a private school (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.26-2.83), were favorably impressed with their educational experience in IM (OR, 4.57; 95% CI, 3.01-6.93), reported favorable feelings about caring for IM patients (OR, 8.72; 95% CI, 6.03-12.62), or reported a favorable impression of internists' lifestyle (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.39-2.87). Medical students valued the teaching during IM clerkships but expressed serious reservations about IM as a career. Students who reported more favorable impressions of the patients cared for by internists, the IM practice environment, and internists' lifestyle were more likely to pursue a career in IM.
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              Career choices of medical students: a national survey of 1780 students.

              Jérémie Lefèvre, Morgan Rouprêt, Solen Kernéis … (2010)
              OBJECTIVES Many factors influence the career specialty decisions made by medical students. The aim of this study was to broaden consideration of the determinants of specialty choice in a large population of medical students in their sixth year of study. METHODS A total of 2588 students distributed across all of the 39 medical schools in France participated in a National Practice Examination in December 2008, after which an electronic questionnaire was administered. Study criteria were: population characteristics; demographics, and motivation for and drawbacks to medical specialty choice. RESULTS A total of 1780 students (1111 women, 62%) responded to the questionnaire (69% response rate). The mean age of respondents was 23.8 years (22-35 years). Of these, 1555 students (87%) stated their preferred medical specialty. Surgical and medical specialties were the two specialties selected most frequently by students (n = 729, 47%). General practice was chosen by 20%. Gender influenced the choice of specialty: 88% of future paediatricians, 82% of gynaecologists and 77% of general practitioners (GPs) were women (p < 0.05). Main motivating factors included interesting diseases, opportunities for private practice and patient contact. Main drawbacks limiting the choice of other specialties were poor quality of life, an exclusively hospital-based career and loss of patient contact. Gender was the criterion most associated with significant differences in factors of motivation for or discouragement from a career. Patient contact and opportunities for private practice were significantly highlighted by future GPs compared with students opting for the medical or surgical specialties (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Students' career choices regarding specialties or general practice result from the interplay among several factors. Career interest in general practice is particularly low. Initiatives to address the factors affecting student career choices regarding less favoured specialties and to deal with the growing feminisation of the profession, which will lead to irreversible changes in clinical practice, are required.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Journal ID (nlm-ta): Adv Med Educ Pract
                Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Adv Med Educ Pract
                Journal ID (publisher-id): Advances in Medical Education and Practice
                Title: Advances in Medical Education and Practice
                Publisher: Dove Medical Press
                ISSN (Electronic): 1179-7258
                Publication date Collection: 2014
                Publication date (Electronic): 24 October 2014
                Volume: 5
                Pages: 397-402
                Affiliations
                King Fahad Hospital of the University, Dammam University, Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
                Author notes
                Correspondence: Mohammed Alshahrani, Emergency and Critical Care Consultant, King Fahad Hospital of the University, Dammam University, PO Box 40236, Al Khobar 31952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 5 5696 6663, Email msshahrani@ 123456ud.edu.sa
                Article
                Publisher ID: amep-5-397
                DOI: 10.2147/AMEP.S69152
                PMC ID: 4216024
                PubMed ID: 25368542
                SO-VID: 4347e563-c8a9-484e-a47f-7afb7b62f4f5
                Copyright © © 2014 Alshahrani et al. This work is published by Dove Medical Press Limited, and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License
                License:

                The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed.

                History
                Categories
                Subject: Original Research

                Keywords: medical students,interns,specialty preference,motivational factors,lifestyle
                Data availability:
                Keywords: medical students, interns, specialty preference, motivational factors, lifestyle

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