Izvorni znanstveni članak
Factors Affecting Choice of Specialty Among First-year Medical Students of Four Universities in Different Regions of Turkey
Mustafa Fevzi Dikici
; Department of Family Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Fusun Yaris
; Department of Family Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Pinar Topsever
; Department of Family Medicine, Kocaeli University School of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey
Tuncay Muge Filiz
; Department of Family Medicine, Kocaeli University School of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey
Fazil Serdar Gurel
; Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey
Mahcube Cubukcu
; Department of Family Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Suleyman Gorpelioglu
; Department of Family Medicine, Kocaeli University School of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey
Sažetak
Aim To determine the factors affecting medical students’ choice of the
specialty of family medicine.
Methods The study was conducted in the period from 2004-2006 and
comprised 770 first-year medical students from Ondokuz Mayis, Karadeniz Technical, Kocaeli, and Adnan Menderes Universities, Turkey. The questionnaire included questions on demographic data and 6 “yes/no” or open-ended questions on students’ career aspirations and the specialty of family medicine. Results The response rate was 93.1% (n = 717, 54.7% male). Nearly all
students (n = 714, 99.6%) showed an intention to specialize after receiving the medical doctor degree. A total of 187 students (26.2%) showed an intention to work in primary care without specialization “for a temporary period” to “gain some experience.” Family medicine was the least preferred specialty (n = 7, 0.9%). The most important reasons for the choice of specialty were “better financial opportunities” and “prestige” (n = 219, 30.5%), followed by “personal development” (n = 149, 20.8%), “more benefits for the patient” (n = 128, 17.9%), and “wish to work in an urban area” (n = 32, 4.5%). The most preferred specialties were cardiology (n = 179, 25.0%), pediatrics (n = 121, 16.9%), ophthalmology (n = 47,6.6%), physical therapy and rehabilitation (n = 34, 4.7%), and obstetrics and gynecology (n = 32, 4.5%). Conclusion Prestige, money, and personal development are important factors in career decision-making among medical students in Turkey. This should be taken into consideration when conducting reforms at the primary level.
Ključne riječi
Medical student; residency; specialty choice; career aspiration; student attitude; primary care; family medicine
Hrčak ID:
29258
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.6.2008.
Posjeta: 2.841 *