Medical career selection among newly graduated physicians in Madinah, KSA.

Objectives: To study factors influencing medical career selection among newly graduated physicians in Al Madinah, KSA.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the period from January through March 2011. The study recruited 170 interns and residents working at Al Madinah hospitals, KSA. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was distributed that included personal data and factors influencing medical career selection. Appropriate statistical tests were used with p value ≤ 0.05 was used as an indicator of significant differences.

Results: The response rate was 79.4% (n=135, 42.2% male). Statistically significant differences were found between male and female participants regarding all the studied medical carrier selection aspects with the higher mean scores among males. Female participants chose the following specialties more than males: ENT, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and medicine. Linear regression analysis showed specialty characters to be the most important predictor in male (R(2)=0.821) and female (R(2)=0.921). Marital status and specialty training process were found to play a key role among females and personality preference and work achievement among males.

Conclusions: Medical career selection is a complex decision-making process. The study revealed specialty characters, personality preference and work achievement (males) and specialty training process and marital status (females), which are the most important predictors for selection.