Reasons for choosing Dermatology as a career choice

Abstract

Context: Determining factors that influence medical students′ choice in selecting their future careers are the key to achieving a balanced distribution of future doctors among all specialties. Aims: This study aimed to determine the factors associated with choosing Dermatology as a future career stream among medical students. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study using consecutive sampling was carried out among Saudi medical students who were enrolled in King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) during the study. Subjects and Methods: A validated newly developed English questionnaire was sent via e-mail to 268 eligible students, of which 200 (75.3%) participated. Statistical Analysis Used: Categorical data were compared using Chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test. All tests were two-sided, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of six (3%) students were considering Dermatology as their first choice, while it was the second choice for seven students (4.7%). Of the participants, 118 (60.8%) found ′the difficulty of getting into a Dermatology residency programme′ to be the least attractive factor. Factors that significantly attracted medical students to consider Dermatology as a career choice were the appeal of being a dermatologist, how dermatologists lead a satisfying family life, reliance on clinical diagnostic skills and research opportunities in Dermatology (P = 0.004, 0.024, 0.039 and 0.010, respectively). Conclusions: A variety of factors influenced the medical students of KSAU-HS when choosing a future specialty. Identification of these factors can help medical student mentors and residency training programme directors to motivate students choose specialties that are limited in our nation.