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Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS |
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ISSN 1681-715X |
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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Volume 26 |
July - September 2010 |
Number 3 |
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Anticipated specialties and influencing factors among
final year medical students in a Nigerian UniversityOmokhoa Adedayo Adeleye 1, Godson Ugwoke Eze 2
ABSTRACT
Objectives
: The study aimed at determining final year medical students’ anticipated specialty choices, the factors they consider important in choosing a specialty and the interrelationship between these variables.Methodology: In a descriptive cross-sectional survey, questions on specialty preferences and influencing factors were asked, using structured self-administered questionnaires.
Results: The specialty preferences included: surgery (50.7%), obstetrics and gynaecology (43.9%), paediatrics (20.6%), community health (17.6%) and adult medicine (14.5%). The proportions of preferred specialties did not ‘fit’ those of recent graduates of the National Postgraduate Medical College (p=0.00). The major influencing factors were personal interest (67.2%), potential for high income (22.0%) and perceived benefit to the society (14.9%). Potential for high income was a major factor associated with all the specialties except community health. Personal interest was a major factor associated with all the specialties except anaesthesia.
Conclusion: The findings call for career education and counselling to empower students in specialty choice decisions. They also provide a basis for systematic and proportionate manpower development in medical specialties by relevant stakeholders in order to meet personal and national needs. The study indicates opportunities for further research.
KEY WORDS:
Medical Students, Specialty Choice, Health Manpower, Career Decision, Nigeria.Pak J Med Sci July - September 2010 Vol. 26 No. 3 510-514
How to cite this article:
Adeleye OA, Eze GU. Anticipated specialties and influencing factors among final year medical students in a Nigerian University. Pak J Med Sci 2010;26(3):510-514
1. Omokhoa Adedayo Adeleye,
2. Godson Ugwoke Eze,
1, 2: Department of Community Health,
University of Benin Teaching Hospital,
Benin City, Nigeria.
Correspondence:
Omokhoa Adedayo Adeleye,
MBBS, MHPM, MPH, MSc, FNIM, FWACP,
Department of Community Health,
University of Benin Teaching Hospital,
Benin City, Nigeria.
E-mail: adeleyeoa@gmail.com
* Received for Publication: April 14, 2010
* 1st Revision Received: April 23, 2010
* 2nd Revision Received: June 7, 2010
* Final Revision Accepted: June 25, 2010
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