EVOLUTION OF SPECIALITY REFERENCES AND INFLUENCING FACTORS AMONG FINAL-YEAR MBBS STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70520/kjms.v18i4.707Keywords:
career, medicine, surgeryAbstract
Introduction: Career selection is one of the most critical decisions in the life of a medical student, which in turn is influenced by multiple factors. This study describes the evolution of career choice during the medical school and factors associated with it.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Rehman Medical College, Peshawar. A structured questionnaire was developed after a literature review and validity. Final year MBBS students were enrolled in the study and asked to fill in the proforma. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for descriptive statistics. McNemar's test was used for paired comparisons between first year and final year career preferences. Effect sizes were calculated as odds ratios with 95% CI.
Results: Of the 86 participants, 40 (46.5%) were male. The mean age was 23.7 ±1.2 years. Nearly half, 41 (47.7%; 95% CI 36.9-58.5%), changed their career preference between the first and final year. Preference for Medicine increased from 26 to 32 (p = 0.020), while Surgery preference declined from 32 to (p = 0.110). Interest in Gynecology rose from 2 to 4 , and Dermatology changed from 12 to 10 , both showing significant shifts (p < 0.001). Preference for abroad-based postgraduate training increased significantly (p = 0.001), while Pakistan-based training did not show a significant change (p = 0.118). Passion and parents’ wish were key motivational factors influencing speciality preference.
Conclusion: Nearly half of medical students changed their speciality choice by the final year. There was a significant shift toward medicine as a speciality and postgraduate training abroad. Common influencing factors for speciality choice were passion and parents’ wish.
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