Factors Influencing Choosing Diagnostic Radiology As a Specialty Among Medical Students.

Abstract

Rationale and objectives: Radiology plays a crucial role in modern healthcare as it facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions in different specialties. Therefore, this study aimed to gain insights into the factors that contribute to medical students choosing radiology as a future career.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study used an online, self-administered questionnaire. Data were collected exclusively from medical students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University in Saudi Arabia from August to September 2023. The chi-square test was used to assess the factors associated with medical students' choices as a future specialty.

Results: A total of 431 eligible respondents completed the survey; 267 (61.9%) were female, and their ages ranged from 18-36 years. When asked about their specialty of choice, 209 (48.5%) were interested in surgery and internal medicine, whereas only 81 (18.8%) chose radiology. Regarding the factors influencing the choice of radiology, the majority (85.6%) reported the importance of lifestyle in their choice, followed by the impact on patient care (83.5%), work environment (82.1%), intellectual challenge (79.8%), presence of procedures (76.6%), degree of patient contact (76.1%), and pre-existing experience of radiology (75.9%).

Conclusion: Many factors influence medical students' choices of radiology as a future career. Predominantly, the working environment, current exposure, knowledge of the specialty, extent of patient contact, and work-life balance were chosen as the main factors affecting medical students' choices when considering radiology as a future specialty.