Specialty Preferences and Influential Factors among Medical Students in Sudan2021-2022 (Published)
A country’s healthcare system is strongly influenced by the career choices and specializations of its physicians. This is even more important in many sub-Saharan African countries, where there are acute and chronic shortages of medical professionals. This study aims to discern the predilections of final medical students regarding career specialization and the underlying factors that contribute to these preferences. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2021 and May 2022. The study included 218 participants, drawn from Alzaiem Alazhari University, National Ribat University, and National University.In terms of specialty preferences, it is observed that female participants exhibit a preference for obstetrics, while their male counterparts demonstrate a higher inclination towards surgery. Specifically, 20.6% of female participants chose obstetrics and gynecology compared to 6.5% of males. Conversely, 26.1% of males and 16% of all females opted for surgery as their primary choice. In the domain of internal medicine, 15.9% of females and 21.7% of males expressed interest. Pediatrics garnered the attention of 13% of female participants, while only 2.2% of males favored this option. Statistically significant factors influencing the selection of surgery and other specialties include Appraisal of own skills and aptitude” (P-value=0.019) and “Desire to provide community service” (P-value=0.0), which also pertains to internal medicine. For those opting for obstetrics and gynecology, the reasons included “Appraisal of own skills and aptitude” (P-value=0.019) and “Acceptable hours of practice” (P-value=0.971). Pediatrics was predominantly chosen based on “Appraisal of own skills and aptitude” (P-value=0.019).Evident gender disparities are observed in specialty preferences, with males showing a pronounced inclination towards surgical and internal medicine fields. While females also express interest, the percentage is notably higher among males in comparison to the total participants of each gender. The primary reasons for selecting specific specialties are rooted in “Appraisal of own skills and aptitude” and the appeal of “Acceptable hours of practice.” Furthermore, an urban practice setting is favored over a rural one.
Keywords: Medical Students, Sudan., medical specialty, preferences