Specialty Preference of Medical Undergraduates and Graduates of a Public Sector Medical University of Karachi

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study is to determine the medical and surgical specialty preferences and eventual destinations of medical students in a public sector university of Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted at Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan during the period of May 2015 to December 2015. House officers and medical undergraduates (fourth and final academic years) were approached. Close ended self administered questionnaire were used, which was composed of demographic details and common twenty specialty choices and eventual destinations of new doctors.

Results: Out of total 260 respondents, 85 (32.7 %) were male and 175 (67.3%) were female. Top most chosen fields for male doctors were cardiology/cardiac surgery (n=23,27.1%), neurology/neurosurgery (n=12, 14.1%), and family /internal/emergency medicine (n=12,14.1%), while female participants desire to work in the fields of family/internal/emergency medicine (n=33,18.9%), cardiology/cardiac surgery (n=26,14.9%) and pediatric/ pediatric surgery (n=22, 12.6%). A total of (n=134,51.5%) of participants were interested to work in homeland in their selected ields while (n=126,48.5%) future doctors desire to practice in overseas. Majority 235(90.4%) were satisfied from the medical profession. The highly considered factors noted were job availability, future inancial prospects and promotion prospects domestic circumstances and international opportunities. A significant difference of gender was associated with satisfaction with the medical field (p-value 0.03) and work preference after graduation (pvalue <0.001).

Conclusion: Majority of the doctors were satisfied from their medical profession. However, job availability, future economic security, and learning opportunities were some major concerns.