Social Factors Influencing Career Choice in a Medical School in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Objective: The goal of this research was to identify familial and nonfamilial social factors influencing post-secondary students' choices of career in medicine. Method: The comparative study was conducted in Ajman, among medical students in the beginning three years, and nonmedical students at the same educational level. After obtaining verbal consent, the participants completed a pilot tested, self-administered questionnaire which included socio-demographic variables and social factors related to career choices. Result: Among the 135 medical students, two thirds were females and 87.3% were below 23 years of age. Most fathers were South Asians (53%); 80% had professional training; 48% were business persons and 12% worked in the medical field. Among mothers, 61.4% were professionally trained, and 67.2% was engaged in unskilled, semiskilled or skilled labor. The non-medical students had mostly Middle Eastern fathers (83.5%), were professionally educated (56.3%) and had careers in business (52.9%); mothers of non-medical students were primarily working in unskilled, skilled or semiskilled occupations (61.4%) and 38% had attained a professional level of education. The majority of medical students perceived their parents to have had strong influence on their career choice of medicine. Among non-familial social factors, 'friends' had a significantly weak influence on their career choice. While more medical students chose their career along with parents, most of the nonmedical group made the choice on their own. Conclusion: Parents had significant influence on post-secondary career choice in medicine and friends had a weak influence. Career guidance programs should consider including parents at the process of career selection at the secondary level.

Factors behind job preferences of Peruvian medical, nursing and midwifery students: a qualitative study focused on rural deployment

“…This is an insufficiently explored area and deserves consideration as part of training efforts of future generations of health professionals. The role of family factors in the decision to choose a medical career, previously reported [ 31 , 40 , 42 ], has also been found in our study, reflecting the positive role that family models play in shaping young people’s career choice decisions.…”

“…Our medical students believed that by becoming doctors they can guarantee their later professional, economic and social status, which is at odds with the generalized perception that medicine does not guarantee anymore a profitable future [ 31 , 42 , 43 ], unless doctors resort to multiple practice appointments [ 42 , 43 ]. This may be due to the fact that students have not experienced yet the actual constraints imposed by the labour market, which privileges professions related to productive and technological activities [ 43 ].…”

Recruitment and retention strategies for public sector optometrists in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

“…Conversely, it was found that urban students may find it harder to adjust and may not work longer than the length of their bursaries. 41 Reasons for choosing an optometry career in South Africa are similar in Saudi Arabia 42 and Ghana 40 -a desire to help others and job availability were the most commonly expressed motives. In interviews, it emerged that exposure to clinical role models (visiting optometrists with parents, volunteering with an optometry student, for example) had some influence on their career choice -corresponding with studies of young doctors 43 and clinical nurses.…”

Parental influences on medical students' self-efficacy and career exploration in collectivist culture

“…Research have shown that families, especially parents, play an important role in identifying their children's talents and directing their educational journey. [ 1 2 ] Family factor is the first environment for an individual to grow and develop in a personal way. Most medical students believe parents have a heavy impact on career choices, while others make career choices with their parents.…”