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Factors Directing Preclinical Medical Students towards Specialty of Choice
Author(s) -
Shacfe Fathiah Nadine Hasan,
Alhomoudi Reham Ibrahim,
Peeran Ahmed Aftab,
Abdeh Amal Iman,
Obad Adam Subait,
Shareef Mohammed Abrar
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.576.45
Subject(s) - specialty , cronbach's alpha , family medicine , multinomial logistic regression , medicine , logistic regression , exploratory factor analysis , preference , multiple choice , psychology , medical education , clinical psychology , psychometrics , significant difference , machine learning , computer science , economics , microeconomics
Choosing a medical specialty could be difficult and confusing process for medical students. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the factors and predictors that influence preclinical medical students' specialty preference. Methods A self‐administered, paper‐based, 19‐item anonymous questionnaire was distributed among preclinical medical student at Alfaisal University. The questionnaire examined factors related to: social life, profession, education, and seniors' advice. Confirmatory factor analysis and cronbach's alpha were used to validate the priori hypothesis and examine the internal consistency of the questionnaire, respectively. Moreover, Kruskal Wallis and Multinomial Logistic Regression tests were used to compare means and determine career choice predictors among medical students. Results A total of 306 students completed the questionnaire with highest choices as surgery 34% (n=99), 33% (n=95) “didn't have any idea about their future specialty preference”, and 9.8% (n=30) internal medicine. The least preferred specialty was family medicine (1.3% n=4). The questionnaire showed acceptable validity and good reliability. The four mean rating values for social, professional, educational, and senior's advice domains were 3.47, 3.4, 3.32, 3.4, respectively (5‐strongly agree, 1‐strongly disagree). Having a High GPA was predictive of choosing an academic career (PhD, P <0.001) and internal medicine (P < 0.001). Additionally, social and educational factors were of more concern to females compared to males (P = 0.029, P = 0.001, respectively). Other factors and domain items had variable importance for students' choice of their future specialties. Conclusion Students' choices were influenced by several social, professional and educational factors. Yet a remarkable number of students were not decisive about their future specialties. Understanding the factors that influence students' preference should prompt the adaptation of plans and curricular modifications to direct students towards highly demanded specialties. An additional emphasis on the importance of family medicine should be adopted by integrating related practical and theoretical activities into the curriculum.