Awareness of Final-Year Medical Students of Omdurman Islamic University on Their Career Choices

Background: Medical students undergo a complex process as a student to make a career decision and pursue further specialization. This study explores the factors that influence the career choices of the two genders studying in the final year of medicine at Omdurman Islamic University.Methods: This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 194 male and female fifth-year medical students studying at Omdurman Islamic University. The questionnaire contains 15 multiple-choice questions to determine the factors affecting students’ career choices – lifestyle, income, family impact,…etc. – and the association between gender and the specialties they choose to pursue.Results: The specialties were preferred in the following order: surgery by 22.9%, internal medicine by 18.3%, obstetric gynecology by 13.8%, and pediatric by 10% (limited to the four major specialties). The least chosen specialties were histopathology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and anesthesia (all were 0.9%). Family medicine and forensics were not chosen by any participant. Females significantly preferred dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, otolaryngology, and pediatrics compared to their male counterparts. Whereas, males compared to females significantly preferred orthopedics and surgery. The factors influencing change in students’ specialties based on their gender were family views and family obligations. Nearly 80% of students choose a career based on personal interest; lifestyle and financial reward were also seen to play an important role in choosing a specialty. About 91% of participants agreed that there is a need for guidance. A great proportion of final-year students (62%) preferred to specialize abroad and related it to a good lifestyle and financial stability.Conclusion: This study showed that the students’ awareness about specialty choices was limited to certain specialties as seen in the literature. The most preferred specialties were surgery (22.9%), internal medicine (18.3%), obstetrics and gynecology (13.8%), and pediatric (10%). There are many factors influencing the selection of specialties, however, the most common one is personal interest followed by lifestyle issues and financial reward. Additionally, there is a significant gender difference in career-choice decisions

Sinai Samaritan Medical Center House Staff, 1991-1992

House staff roster with photos of Sinai Samaritan residents in 1991-1992 for the specialties of internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and psychiatry.https://digitalrepository.aurorahealthcare.org/asmc_books/1024/thumbnail.jp

Physician career satisfaction within specialties

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Specialty-specific data on career satisfaction may be useful for understanding physician workforce trends and for counseling medical students about career options.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed cross-sectional data from 6,590 physicians (response rate, 53%) in Round 4 (2004-2005) of the Community Tracking Study Physician Survey. The dependent variable ranged from +1 to -1 and measured satisfaction and dissatisfaction with career. Forty-two specialties were analyzed with survey-adjusted linear regressions</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After adjusting for physician, practice, and community characteristics, the following specialties had significantly higher satisfaction levels than family medicine: pediatric emergency medicine (regression coefficient = 0.349); geriatric medicine (0.323); other pediatric subspecialties (0.270); neonatal/prenatal medicine (0.266); internal medicine and pediatrics (combined practice) (0.250); pediatrics (0.250); dermatology (0.249);and child and adolescent psychiatry (0.203). The following specialties had significantly lower satisfaction levels than family medicine: neurological surgery (-0.707); pulmonary critical care medicine (-0.273); nephrology (-0.206); and obstetrics and gynecology (-0.188). We also found satisfaction was significantly and positively related to income and employment in a medical school but negatively associated with more than 50 work-hours per-week, being a full-owner of the practice, greater reliance on managed care revenue, and uncontrollable lifestyle. We observed no statistically significant gender differences and no differences between African-Americans and whites.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Career satisfaction varied across specialties. A number of stakeholders will likely be interested in these findings including physicians in specialties that rank high and low and students contemplating specialty. Our findings regarding "less satisfied" specialties should elicit concern from residency directors and policy makers since they appear to be in critical areas of medicine.</p

Association between personality factors and consulting specialty of practice of doctors at an academic hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa

Background. Studies found an association between personality types and field of specialty. The current study could assist aspiring specialists in deciding which specialty they are best suited for by comparing their own personalities with the results.Objectives. To explore the personality characteristics of doctors in three consulting and four surgical specialties at an academic hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa.Methods. In this analytical cross-sectional study, questionnaires, including the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire, were handed out. Overall, 58 consultants and senior registrars from the departments of Family Medicine, Paediatrics and Internal Medicine (response rate 71.6%) and 70 consultants and senior registrars from surgical specialties (response rate 60.3%) participated.Results. Family medicine had the lowest median score for impulsive sensation seeking (21.1%) and aggression-hostility (11.8%), and highest for parties and friends (33.3%). Paediatrics scored highest for neuroticism-anxiety (44.7%) and aggression-hostility (23.5%). Internal medicine scored highest for sociability (25.0%) and isolation intolerance (37.8%), and lowest for neuroticism-anxiety (36.8%) and activity (47.1%). Overall, the consulting group scored lower than the surgical group for impulsive sensation seeking, aggression-hostility, sociability and activity, and higher for neuroticism-anxiety.Conclusion. The study identified personality types of some specialties, and revealed differences between characteristics of local specialists compared with findings from studies elsewhere

Factors associated with the subspecialty choices of internal medicine residents in Canada

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Currently, there are more residents enrolled in cardiology training programs in Canada than in immunology, pharmacology, rheumatology, infectious diseases, geriatrics and endocrinology combined. There is no published data regarding the proportion of Canadian internal medicine residents applying to the various subspecialties, or the factors that residents consider important when deciding which subspecialty to pursue. To address the concern about physician imbalances in internal medicine subspecialties, we need to examine the factors that motivate residents when making career decisions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this two-phase study, Canadian internal medicine residents participating in the post graduate year 4 (PGY4) subspecialty match were invited to participate in a web-based survey and focus group discussions. The focus group discussions were based on issues identified from the survey results. Analysis of focus group transcripts grew on grounded theory.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>110 PGY3 residents participating in the PGY4 subspecialty match from 10 participating Canadian universities participated in the web-based survey (54% response rate). 22 residents from 3 different training programs participated in 4 focus groups held across Canada. Our study found that residents are choosing careers that provide intellectual stimulation, are consistent with their personality, and that provide a challenge in diagnosis. From our focus group discussions it appears that lifestyle, role models, mentorship and the experience of the resident with the specialty appear to be equally important in career decisions. Males are more likely to choose procedure based specialties and are more concerned with the reputation of the specialty as well as the anticipated salary. In contrast, residents choosing non-procedure based specialties are more concerned with issues related to lifestyle, including work-related stress, work hours and time for leisure as well as the patient populations they are treating.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study suggests that internal medicine trainees, and particularly males, are increasingly choosing procedure-based specialties while non-procedure based specialties, and in particular general internal medicine, are losing appeal. We need to implement strategies to ensure positive rotation experiences, exposure to role models, improved lifestyle and job satisfaction as well as payment schedules that are equitable between disciplines in order to attract residents to less popular career choices.</p

Sign-Out Snapshot: Evaluation Of Written Sign-Outs Among Specialties And Role Of Hospitalist Sign-Out

SIGN-OUT SNAPSHOT: EVALUATION OF WRITTEN SIGN-OUTS AMONG SPECIALTIES AND ROLE OF HOSPITALIST SIGN-OUT. Amy R. Schoenfeld, Robert L. Fogerty, Mohammed Salim, and Leora I. Horwitz. Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. In our first study, we compared written sign-out practices across specialties. We hypothesized that most sign-outs would contain key content and be updated within 24 hours, independent of specialty. We evaluated all non-Intensive Care Unit written sign-outs from five specialties on January 18, 2012, at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Our final cohort included 457 sign-outs: 313 medicine, 64 general surgery, 36 pediatrics, 30 obstetrics, and 14 gynecology. Though nearly all sign-outs (96%) had been updated within 24 hours, they often lacked key information. Hospital course prevalence ranged from 57% (gynecology) to 100% (pediatrics) (p\u3c0.001). Clinical condition ranged from 34% (surgery) to 72% (pediatrics) (p=0.005). Thus, structured templates alone do not guarantee inclusion of critical content, and specialties have varied sign-out practices. In our second study, we surveyed medicine hospitalists in order to assess the role of sign-out. We hypothesized that sign-outs deemed sufficient by hospitalists would contain certain content and be updated. Fifteen hospitalists at Yale-New Haven Hospital participated in a survey about inquiries they received overnight. Our final study cohort included 124 inquiries regarding 96 patients, 69 of whom had sign-outs. Chi square analysis found that sufficient sign-outs most often had a composite score of four (denoting inclusion of key content and being updated), and had at least two total anticipatory guidance statements and/or tasks. Hospitalists often use supplemental sources to answer overnight inquiries, suggesting that most sign-outs do not provide sufficient information

Publication rates on the topic of racial and ethnic diversity in dermatology versus other specialties

Background: The population of the U.S. is becoming more diverse every year. The field of dermatology is not following the same trend. Objective: To assess the promotion of diversity in the field of dermatology by analyzing publications focused on diversity, compared to other specialties. Methods: The PubMed database was systematically searched to identify publications focused on diversity from January 2008 to July 2019. The search criteria were as follows: dermatology/radiology/ophthalmology/ anesthesiology/orthopedic surgery/family medicine/ internal medicine/general surgery AND diversity/ diverse/racial/race/ethnic/ethnicity/cultural/culture/competency/competence. Comparisons were made using single-factor ANOVA and two-group t-tests. A qualitative analysis was performed for publications in the field of dermatology. Results: From January 2016 to July 2019, there were 25 publications focused on diversity in dermatology (Mean=6.25, SD=2.06), compared to 6 in radiology (Mean=1.50, SD=1.29, P=0.01), two in ophthalmology (Mean=0.50, SD=0.58, P=0.01), two in anesthesiology (Mean=0.50, SD=1.00, P=0.01), 12 in orthopedic surgery (Mean=3.00, SD=1.41, P=0.04), 23 in family medicine (Mean=5.75, SD=2.22, P=0.75), 9 in internal medicine (Mean=2.25, SD=1.71, P=0.02), and 7 in general surgery (Mean=1.75, SD=0.50, P=0.02). Conclusions: Although the field of dermatology has suffered from a lack of racial/ethnic diversity, efforts to promote diversity via increased publications in the last four years have been stronger in dermatology compared to many other fields

Gender variations in specialties among medical doctors working in public healthcare institutions in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Background: Gender variations exist in the choice of specialties among doctors globally. This variation is of public health importance as it affects the distribution of doctors in public health institutions and patient care. In Bayelsa, Nigeria,no such study had been undertaken.This study aimed to examine gender variations in specialties among medical doctors working in public healthcare institutions in Bayelsa State.Methods: Cross-sectional study design was adopted for this study. Information about doctors working in public healthcare institutions in Bayelsa were collected via data extraction from the register of doctors at Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) and at Hospital Management Board (HMB) of State Ministry of Health, and with self-completed questionnaires from doctors at Federal Medical Centre (FMC). In this paper, statistical analyses were restricted to data from FMC (n=91) and NDUTH (n=100) because they have multiple specialties. All available data were analyzed by gender and data analyses were carried out using SPSS statistical software.Results: Out of the191 doctors included in the analysis, 135(70.7%) were males. The median age was 32 years for male doctors and 29 years for female doctors.The top three specialty choices for males were obstetrics and gynaecology (14.8%),internal medicine (11.1%) and surgery (8.9%). For female doctors,pediatrics was the topmost specialty (25%) followed by obstetrics and gynaecology (10.7%) and internal medicine (8.9%). There were no female doctors in 14 specialties. Female doctors had higher proportions of house officers compared to males (45.5% versus 32.3% respectively). Conversely, male doctors had higher proportions of consultants/specialists than females (24.1% versus 9.1% respectively).Conclusion: Specialty distribution of doctors in Bayelsa is gendered and some specialties appear not to attract female doctors. These findings call for further studies to investigate the factors responsible for this gender variation, and to identify and address any barriers.Keywords: Gender variation,Specialties,Doctors,Public healthcare,Health workforc

Summary of European recommendations on nephrology

The study guide is recommended for students of 5–6 courses in the discipline of "Internal Medicine", as well as for interns in the specialties of "Internal Diseases" and "General Practice – Family Medicine"

Choice of medical specialty and personality traits measured with the EPQ-R(S) in medical students and specialist doctors

Objective: The study was conducted to examine the differences between personality traits of medical students choosing future specialties and among specialist doctors. Methods: Two groups were tested: students and specialist doctors, totaling 87 people. The former consisted of 5th and 6th year medical students (48 people), and the latter included doctors of various specialties (39 people). All statistical analyses were performed using Statistica 10 software. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised Short form (EPQ-R(S)) was used to conduct personality assessments. Results: In the student group, there were no differences in the personality traits measured with the EPQ-R(S) depending on their preferred specialty (surgical, non-surgical, pediatric, internal medicine specialties or areas which do not require contact with the patient). In the group of doctors, there were no differences in personality traits measured with the EPQ-R(S) pediatric and surgical specialists. Internal medicine specialists had a significantly higher level of extraversion. Conclusion: Personality traits are not the most important factor influencing the choice of the professional path in young Polish doctors. Contrary to the stereotypes prevailing in the medical environment, also among specialist doctors, the personality-related differences are not so obvious. The results of this study can be used in medical career counseling, in order to help young medical students to choose their future career paths