Factors and Determinants of Choosing Pathology as a Future Career: Results From a Multi-Institution Study.

Emad M Masuadi,Abdulrahman M Alhassan,Mohamud S Mohamud,Abdullah T Tatwani,Ahmed S Hilabi,Faisal A Alharbi,Sami Al-Nasser,Khalid G Alharbi,Mohammed F Safi,Abdullah I Farraj

doi:10.7759/cureus.15790

Abstract

BackgroundGlobally, less than 10% of graduating medical students select pathology as a future career. Many factors were reported from different settings to influence the choice of pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that determine medical students’ preferences in choosing pathology as a future career.MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed students from three governmental medical schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire that contained demographic questions and items that addressed perceived factors that affect the choice of pathology was distributed to medical students. Collected data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). A chi-square test was used to determine the association between independent variables and interest in pathology.ResultsOut of the 400 questionnaires distributed, 338 students completed the survey with a response rate of 84.5%. Overall, surgery (24%) and internal medicine (20%) were the most favored, specialties with only 5% of the students selecting pathology as their first choice. Patient-doctor interaction (72.2%) was perceived as the most important factor in not choosing pathology as a future career. Taking an elective course, younger age groups, and year in medical school were all significantly associated (p<0.001) with an interest in pathology.ConclusionIn this study, most of the students indicated surgery and internal medicine as their first specialty choices. Only 5% of the students chose pathology as their first choice. Two-thirds of medical students perceived pathologists do not interact with patients. A significant association was found between younger age groups, enrolling for a pathology course, and having an interest in pathology.

Highlights

One of the most important decisions any medical student takes after graduation is to select a specialty that would stay with the rest of his career
Our findings are similar to studies conducted in Jordan [1], Pakistan [15], Ethiopia [16], and Saudi Arabia [12,17], which found that the majority of the students have selected surgery followed by internal medicine as their future career
As for the factors influencing career choices, our findings show that job opportunities and self-interest were the most important factors in choosing a future career followed by the level of income

Summary

Introduction

One of the most important decisions any medical student takes after graduation is to select a specialty that would stay with the rest of his career. The number of senior medical students choosing pathology as their future career has been in decline in the last few decades [2]. A growing body of literature shows that there are multiple factors that may influence medical students' preferences in specialty selection, one of which being patient contact, as pathologists work in secluded laboratories [3]. Less than 10% of graduating medical students select pathology as a future career. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that determine medical students’ preferences in choosing pathology as a future career

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Conclusion