A Regional Perspective on the Attitudes of Fourth-Year Medical Students Toward the Field of General Surgery

Trends of Surgical Career Selection Among Medical Students and Graduates: A Global Perspective

“…19,20,22,24 In the United States, general surgery was on the peak level of interest among 5 medical students in the early 1980s followed by a decreasing trend in the late 1990s with 6.1% match rate in 2001. 24 Since then many studies were done to determine the factors responsible for such a decline.…”

“…24 Since then many studies were done to determine the factors responsible for such a decline. 20,22 An internet-based survey with senior students from 16 United States medical schools (2005) showed that only 9.9% of the respondents selected general surgery. 22 A similar study done in Nebraska (2009) showed that only 10% of the respondents selected general surgery where personal satisfaction and poor lifestyle was identified as the most influential positive and negative factor, respectively.…”

“…Positive influence Direct patient care 4,15,20,24,27 Immediate impact of intervention 4,9,20 Focus on urgent care Focus on in-hospital care Personal interest (and intelligence) 3,5,6,11,20 High self-confidence 25 Individual abilities and competencies 1,20 Special skills and talents unique to the specialty 24 Challenging diagnostic problems 24 Nature of clinical problems 4,20 Active experiential learning 25 Negative influence Inadequate knowledge of gross anatomy 12 Lack of interest 14 Cadaver-based laparoscopic demonstrations to enhance gross anatomy teaching. 34 Enhanced interest of preclinical students in surgery by usage of simulation based courses, such as laparoscopy, endovascular procedures, etc.…”

“…Intellectual content 1,3,9,15,24,27 Practical content 4,9,11,20 Younger and urban origin Specialty reputation 1 Negative influence Likelihood of lawsuit…”

Medical Students and General Surgery—Israel's National Survey: Lifestyle Is Not the Sole Issue

“…In the last 20 years, a gradual deterioration has occurred in the status of general surgery in Israel, similar to the United States and the United Kingdom. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The number of medical students who choose general surgery is dropping constantly, and as a result, the number of programs with vacant resident positions in general surgery is increasing. The similar phenomenon occurring also in Israel results in subsequent deterioration in the profession's status and prestige.…”