Preferences of choice of future specialty: Insights from final year medical students in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The choice of specialty by medical students and early career doctors affects health workforce distribution in any country. In addressing healthcare needs of the populace, appropriate distribution of manpower across board is essential. Several factors come into play in making these choices. This study assessed factors affecting the career choices of final year medical students and how curricular changes may have influenced these.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 236 final year medical students of the University of Ibadan by convenience sampling using self-administered semi-structured questionnaires. Questions were on sociodemographic characteristics, career counselling, preferred future career and factors affecting these choices. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 software.

Results: A total of 236 medical students participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 23.6(±1.9) years. Only 112(47.5%) respondents had received any form of career counselling/guidance in the course of their medical training. The commonest first choice specialties were obstetrics and gynecology 54(22.9%), surgery 44(18.6%) and psychiatry 18(7.6%). Personal interest most often (185, 78.4%) influenced career choice overall, showing significance in obstetrics and gynecology (p=0.02), family medicine (p=0.02) and public health (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The predominant choices of future specialty among final year medical students were obstetrics and gynecology, surgery and psychiatry. The change in curriculum for medical students may have affected the pattern of their choices with more interest shown in previously neglected areas.