@article{Hashmi_Daud_Manzoor_Maqsood_Aizaz_Siddiqui_Baig_2011, title={FACTORS AFFECTING MEDICAL SPECIALTY PREFERENCES AND ASSOCIATED GENDER DIFFERENCES IN FOURTH YEAR MBBS STUDENTS}, volume={24}, url={https://jpmi.org.pk/index.php/jpmi/article/view/1225}, abstractNote={Objective: To identify factors affecting medical specialty preferences and associated gender differences in<br />Fourth Year MBBS students.<br />Material and Methods: This was a Cross-sectional survey conducted on fourth year MBBS students of<br />Lahore Medical and Dental College through a Preformed Structured questionnaire by non probability<br />sampling technique. The student were told that the survey was voluntary and were given a choice of refusal<br />but fortunately all the students in the class participated in the survey (n=120). Data was collected during<br />January 2009. Data was analyzed using SPSS v. 16.0. Descriptive statistics were computed, and the<br />relationship between specialty preference and categorical variables (gender, reasons for choosing a<br />particular specialty) were evaluated using Pearson Chi square test. A calculated p value of < 0.05 was<br />considered statistically significant.<br />Results: Our study revealed that students selected surgery [40(33%)] as the most preferred post graduate<br />specialty followed by medicine [17(14%)] and Obstetrics/Gynecology [16(13%)] respectively. Female<br />medical students picked Obstetrics /Gynecology [16(24%)] while male medical students opted for Surgery<br />as their most preferred specialty [28 (51%)]. This gender difference in specialty preference was<br />statistically significant with a p value of < 0.00.<br />The most common reasons for choosing a particular specialty were reputation (general perception among<br />people) of the specialty [46(38%)] and anticipated income [22(18%)].<br />Conclusion: The most common reasons cited by students for choosing a particular specialty was reputation<br />of the specialty followed by anticipated income and advice from parents. Gender differences were found in<br />career preferences.}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute}, author={Hashmi, Noreen Rahat and Daud, Seema and Manzoor, Iram and Maqsood, Saleha and Aizaz, Sana and Siddiqui, Danish and Baig, Samiullah}, year={2011}, month={Oct.} }