Integrated Medical Education Resources: 130925P - CHOICE OF SURGICAL AND MEDICAL DISCIPLINES

Paper Written by Prof Omar Hasan Kasule Sr

Surgery 1

An international study revealed variation by country in favoring a surgical career with males preferring surgery more than females[1]. Some countries experiencing a decline while others experienced an increase[2] in surgical interest. Greek students had a low interest for surgical[3]. Malawian students preferred surgical disciplines over others with choice of specific surgical sub disciplines depending on the influence of the mentor[4].
Surgical demonstrations encouraged choice of surgical careers[5]. Canadian students choosing careers in surgery were: male, younger age, single, influenced by prestige, and hospital oriented[6]. Exposure was the most important factor making medical students choose a career in plastic surgery[7]. Brief exposure to a hand surgeon influenced student career preferences[8].
A study in Ireland showed that males preferred surgical disciplines while females preferred care disciplines of pediatrics and geriatrics[9].

Surgery 2

An Irish study showed that three factors determined specialty choice among students: Future employment, career opportunities and intellectual challenge. Job prestige was addition factor for those interested in a surgical career.
Lifestyle factors made surgery unpopular among women.[10].
Student choice of an orthopedic career was made prior to medical school, contact with faculty, clinical rotations, and anticipated income played a small role[11].
Exposure of students to endovascular surgery simulation increased student interest in this career path[12][13].
Medical school and residency experiences determined choice of an academic neuro surgery career[14][15].
Clerkship in surgery and a mentor predicted choice of a career in general surgery[16].

Pediatrics:

Support of medical students to undertake pediatric research motivated them to choose a career in pediatrics and especially in academic pediatrics[17].
Students in pediatric clerkship needed advice about career choice in addition to the clerkship experience[18].

Internal medicine (IM):

Factors that influenced student choice of internal medicine were: 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 of male gender, attended a private school, had favorable impression with their educational experience in IM, had favorable feelings about caring for IM patients or reported a favorable impression of internists' lifestyle[19].

Psychiatry:

Student choice of psychiatry as a career choice was affected by an undergraduate education in the arts, having close family or friends practicing medicine, having worked voluntarily with people with mental illness, and lower hospital orientation[20]
A promotional DVD increased students’ interest in psychiatry[21].
A study in Serbia found mixed reactions to psychiatry as a career among medical students: Those who liked psychiatry considered it an interesting and challenging job (especially intellectually) and were less interested in its prestige and financial reward. Those who did not like psychiatry saw it as lacking a scientific foundation, clinically inefficient, intense emotional involvement, and stressful.[22].
Despite a small number of practicing psychiatrists few Pakistani students showed interest in the discipline[23].

Emergency medicine:

Students interested in emergency medicine had some attributes: hospital orientation, medical lifestyle, and less social orientation[24].
Lifestyle and length of residency were found to be factors of students choosing emergency medicine[25],[26].

Radiology:

Use of medical students to triage images after hours influenced their career choices[27].

Anatomy:

REFERENCES

Available upon request