Factors Influencing Choice of Medical Specialty among Ophthalmology and Non-Ophthalmology Residency Applicants

Cui, David; Wingert, Andreas M

doi:10.1055/s-0041-1728644

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 22 publications

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“…[ 26 27 ] Therefore, longitudinal studies are required to be conducted to understand how curriculum modification, quality of learning environment, and personal perceptions influence the subject choice of the students to maintain an adequate supply and demand workflow for optimum patient care. [ 28 29 30 31 ]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ophthalmology as a career choice among medical students in Eastern India – A cross-sectional study

Parija

Gupta

Nayak

et al. 2022

Indian J Ophthalmol

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Purpose: Several factors influence medical students to choose a specialty branch for post-graduate training, and it is important to understand them so that strategies can be made to make it more attractive and hence the shortage in the workforce can be addressed. This study aimed to identify the factors that influenced under-graduate medical students to choose ophthalmology as their specialty for post-graduate training. Methods It was a descriptive, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study, carried out among medical students at a tertiary academic institute in eastern India. In this survey tool, 25 questions were divided into different sections: demographic data, factors influencing the choice and perceptions about ophthalmology as a career option, and the impact of rotatory internship posting on the choice of subject. The various factors were then scored and indexed appropriately. Results There were 515 participants. The median age was 23 years. The major influencing factor for choosing ophthalmology was “adequate time” (52.04%), and the discouraging factor was “steep learning curve” (58.64%). Age had an odds ratio of 0.781, showing that the lower the age, the higher the chances of being positively inclined toward ophthalmology as a career choice. Similarly, major deciding factors, perceptions, and experiences in ophthalmology had odds ratios of 1.841, 1.725, and 2.057, respectively, showing a positive inclination. Conclusion The study states that a steep learning curve, personal attitudes, and misconceptions may dissuade the students from taking this subject, but adequate clinical exposure and experience, as well as role models during the internship, can create a positive impact on career choice.

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