Career preferences among final year medical students and house officers: A multicentre survey in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: Career preferences of medical trainees have the potential to shape the future of the healthcareworkforce of any nation. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence career choices ofmedical students and house officers (interns) in two institutions located in Southwest Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst final year medical students and interns in twomedical universities and their corresponding teaching hospitals in Southwest Nigeria. A questionnairewas used to obtain socio-demographic data, career choices, reasons behind career choices and thepresence and influence of mentorship on career choices. Responses were analyzed using the StatisticalPackage for Social Sciences Version 21, and descriptive statistics generated.Results: Obstetrics & Gynecology and Surgical specialties were the most preferred career choices by themedical students, while Surgical and Medical specialties were most preferred by the interns. Personalinterest and other personal reasons were the top motivating factors for the career choices amongst themedical students of both institutions, while personal interest and future job opportunities were the topreasons for the career choices amongst the interns of both institutions. Mentorship was lacking for most ofthe medical students and house officers, except in one of the teaching hospitals, where over half of theinterns had career mentors.Conclusion: Attention should be paid to the reasons behind career choices, in order to channel effortstowards making clinical specialties become attractive to young medical trainees, as the future of the healthworkforce in the nation depends on it.Keywords: Career Choices, Medical Students, House officers, Medical Education, Nigeria