Specialties preference by gender among medical students at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa

South African Family Practice

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Specialties preference by gender among medical students at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa
 
Creator Pooe, Andiswa Ntuli, Samuel T. Masango, Sizwe Rab, Aqila Mudau, Thiambi Moloko, Pollet Mtshali, Sifundo
 
Subject — medical students; gender differences; career preference; speciality choice
Description Background: To determine the speciality preferences and the gender differences in the choice of speciality among medical students at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among fourth- to sixth-year medical students. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 16 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, United States).Results: A total of 174 students participated (response rate of 74%). Their median age was 23 years with interquartile range of 2 years. More than half (57%) were females. About 83% had no previous qualifications. Most (89%) have shown interest in pursuing specialist training. Surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology and internal medicine were the most selected specialities, while family medicine, ophthalmology, forensic medicine, public health medicine, ear, nose and throat, and accident and emergency medicine were the least preferred. Males were more likely interested in surgery and internal medicine, while females preferred obstetrics and gynaecology.Conclusion: The majority of the medical students intends to pursue their postgraduate medical training. Even though the results were not statistically significant, there are gender differences in speciality preferences. There is a need to develop and implement career guidance and recruitment plans to deal with specialities with poor recruitment and gender imbalance.Contribution: To deal with specialties with poor and gender imbalance, career guidance and recruitment plans must be developed and implemented.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2024-04-23
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/safp.v66i1.5858
 
Source South African Family Practice; Vol 66, No 1 (2024): Part 2; 6 pages 2078-6204 2078-6190
 
Language eng
 
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https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5858/8671 https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5858/8672 https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5858/8673 https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5858/8674
 
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Rights Copyright (c) 2024 Andiswa Pooe, Samuel T. Ntuli, Sizwe Masango, Aqila Rab, Thiambi Mudau, Pollet M. Mantsho, Sifundo Mtshali https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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