Career preferences and factors influencing speciality choices among the medical students in Telangana: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Aim of the study was to know career preferences and factors influencing speciality choices among the medical students in Telangana. Materials and Methods: An Institution based cross sectional study was carried out at Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally with 150 first year medical students as study subjects from November 2017 to December 2017. Study tool was pretested semi structured questionnaire. Data was entered in Microsoft excel and analysis was done using SPSS statistical package version 22. Result: Out of 150 participants, 42 (28%) were boys and 108 (72%) were girls, with a mean age of 17.94 ± 0.82. Majority (62.6%) of the participants were city residents. 57.3% of the study population wants to pursue specialization. Among the students who wants to pursue specialization majority were interested in clinical branches compared to Community Medicine which was only 6.9%. There was significant difference between males and females selection of specialities like cardiology, gynaecology and orthopaedics. Most common factors for selection of speciality courses were reputation of the speciality (91.8%) and Self interest (76.7%). Conclusion: Majority of the medical students wants to pursue specialization and most of them showed interest in the clinical branches. Significant difference between males and females selection of specialities like cardiology, gynaecology and orthopaedics. Most common factors for selection of speciality courses were reputation of the speciality and Self interest followed by early settlement and to make more money.