Factors Affecting Career Choices Among Medical Students of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62497/IRABCS.2024.36Keywords:
Career choices , medical students, Future speciality , motivate, trainingAbstract
Background: Choosing a medical specialty can be either a daunting and confusing experience for some medical students and junior doctors or a foregone conclusion to others. The aim of this study is to evaluate factors influencing career choices among medical students in Ayub Medical College (AMC) Abbottabad, KPK, Pakistan.
Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive type cross sectional study carried out at AMC Abbottabad for a period of 8 months from 1st March, 2022 to 31st October, 2022 on 100 students. Study population was Medical students of AMC Abbottabad. A questionnaire was developed for data collection. The data was analyzed through computer using SPSS version 20.0. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for continuous variables and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables.
Results: In this study students from all classes from first to final year MBBS were included. Out of 100 students, 52 (52%) were males and 48(48%) were females. In this study we assessed that about 30% medical students were unsure about their future specialty decision , 29% students have broad area decision , 23% students have specific area decided upon while 12% students currently considering two broad areas. Moreover 41% students have not yet decided their future broad area for specialty, 35% students decided during their clinical years (3rd,4th and final year), 12% students had decided during their pre-clinical years (1st and 2nd year) and 12 % students had decided prior to medical college. According to our study, the most important factor which influence career choice among medical students is personal interest 49%, followed by lifestyle 15% , future job opportunities 14% , 7% influence from a mentor, 5 % previous positive clerkship experience and 4% have other personal reasons.
Conclusion: A variety of factors appeared to inspire medical students in AMC Abbottabad to choose a future career choice. When identified, these factors can be used by mentors of medical students and directors of residency training programs to motivate students to choose specialties that are limited in the country and therefore better serve the national community.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Dr. Sadaqat Ullah Rehmat, Dr. Sadam Hussain, Dr. Fawad Ahmad, Dr. Sobia Ali (Author)
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