FACTORS AFFECTING MEDICAL SPECIALTY PREFERENCES AND ASSOCIATED GENDER DIFFERENCES IN FOURTH YEAR MBBS STUDENTS

Abstract

Objective: To identify factors affecting medical specialty preferences and associated gender differences in
Fourth Year MBBS students.
Material and Methods: This was a Cross-sectional survey conducted on fourth year MBBS students of
Lahore Medical and Dental College through a Preformed Structured questionnaire by non probability
sampling technique. The student were told that the survey was voluntary and were given a choice of refusal
but fortunately all the students in the class participated in the survey (n=120). Data was collected during
January 2009. Data was analyzed using SPSS v. 16.0. Descriptive statistics were computed, and the
relationship between specialty preference and categorical variables (gender, reasons for choosing a
particular specialty) were evaluated using Pearson Chi square test. A calculated p value of < 0.05 was
considered statistically significant.
Results: Our study revealed that students selected surgery [40(33%)] as the most preferred post graduate
specialty followed by medicine [17(14%)] and Obstetrics/Gynecology [16(13%)] respectively. Female
medical students picked Obstetrics /Gynecology [16(24%)] while male medical students opted for Surgery
as their most preferred specialty [28 (51%)]. This gender difference in specialty preference was
statistically significant with a p value of < 0.00.
The most common reasons for choosing a particular specialty were reputation (general perception among
people) of the specialty [46(38%)] and anticipated income [22(18%)].
Conclusion: The most common reasons cited by students for choosing a particular specialty was reputation
of the specialty followed by anticipated income and advice from parents. Gender differences were found in
career preferences.