The perceived impact of curricular and non-curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the United States
Abstract Background Limited information exists regarding how medical students’ specialty interests evolve throughout medical school, particularly interest in surgical versus non-surgical specialties. Our objective was to identify medical students’ specialty interests before and after medical school...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04731-1 |
| _version_ | 1797558951375536128 |
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| author | Naveen Karthik Marjorie Greenfield Todd Otteson |
| author_facet | Naveen Karthik Marjorie Greenfield Todd Otteson |
| author_sort | Naveen Karthik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Limited information exists regarding how medical students’ specialty interests evolve throughout medical school, particularly interest in surgical versus non-surgical specialties. Our objective was to identify medical students’ specialty interests before and after medical school and the most important curricular and non-curricular factors that shaped their specialty choice. Methods An online 22-question voluntary, anonymized survey was designed to assess specialty interests and factors impacting specialty choice at a single medical school in the United States. The study was pilot-tested with focus groups. The final questionnaire was distributed to final-year medical students from the Classes of 2020 and 2021. Responses were measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strong negative impact to 5 = strong positive impact). Results 102 of 184 students (55%) from Class of 2020 and 85 of 174 students (49%) from Class of 2021 participated. Of 187 respondents, the majority (60%) decided on their specialty during third year. 74 of 147 students (50%) pursued a specialty among their initial specialty interests. Students with initial surgical interests were significantly (p < 0.001) less likely to choose surgical specialties (42%) compared to students with initial non-surgical interests choosing non-surgical specialties (79%). Pre-clinical years (3.67 ± 0.96) were perceived to have a significantly (p < 0.001) less positive impact on specialty interests and choice compared to clinical years. Among pre-clinical factors, physician shadowing (3.80 ± 0.83) was perceived to have the significantly (p < 0.001) greatest positive impact. During clinicals, 34% of respondents indicated that order of clerkships impacted specialty choice. 112 of 171 respondents (65%) indicated that mentorship impacted specialty choice. Physicians in the chosen specialty were perceived to have the strongest impact (4.67 ± 0.49). 65 of 171 respondents (38%) indicated that peers impacted specialty choice with classmates (3.98 ± 0.87) and near-peers (3.83 ± 0.74) perceived to have a positive impact. Conclusions Specialty interests changed during medical school for a significant portion of students (50%). Those with initial surgical interests were more likely to change their specialty interests. Pre-clinicals were reported to have less impact on specialty choice compared to clinicals. Implementing factors such as shadowing and physician/peer mentorship, which may positively impact specialty choice, into pre-clinical curricula warrants further investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:37:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ec6e748a656441ea4c07172eff7737e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:37:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ec6e748a656441ea4c07172eff7737e2023-11-20T09:47:21ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202023-10-012311910.1186/s12909-023-04731-1The perceived impact of curricular and non-curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the United StatesNaveen Karthik0Marjorie Greenfield1Todd Otteson2Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineCase Western Reserve University School of MedicineCase Western Reserve University School of MedicineAbstract Background Limited information exists regarding how medical students’ specialty interests evolve throughout medical school, particularly interest in surgical versus non-surgical specialties. Our objective was to identify medical students’ specialty interests before and after medical school and the most important curricular and non-curricular factors that shaped their specialty choice. Methods An online 22-question voluntary, anonymized survey was designed to assess specialty interests and factors impacting specialty choice at a single medical school in the United States. The study was pilot-tested with focus groups. The final questionnaire was distributed to final-year medical students from the Classes of 2020 and 2021. Responses were measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strong negative impact to 5 = strong positive impact). Results 102 of 184 students (55%) from Class of 2020 and 85 of 174 students (49%) from Class of 2021 participated. Of 187 respondents, the majority (60%) decided on their specialty during third year. 74 of 147 students (50%) pursued a specialty among their initial specialty interests. Students with initial surgical interests were significantly (p < 0.001) less likely to choose surgical specialties (42%) compared to students with initial non-surgical interests choosing non-surgical specialties (79%). Pre-clinical years (3.67 ± 0.96) were perceived to have a significantly (p < 0.001) less positive impact on specialty interests and choice compared to clinical years. Among pre-clinical factors, physician shadowing (3.80 ± 0.83) was perceived to have the significantly (p < 0.001) greatest positive impact. During clinicals, 34% of respondents indicated that order of clerkships impacted specialty choice. 112 of 171 respondents (65%) indicated that mentorship impacted specialty choice. Physicians in the chosen specialty were perceived to have the strongest impact (4.67 ± 0.49). 65 of 171 respondents (38%) indicated that peers impacted specialty choice with classmates (3.98 ± 0.87) and near-peers (3.83 ± 0.74) perceived to have a positive impact. Conclusions Specialty interests changed during medical school for a significant portion of students (50%). Those with initial surgical interests were more likely to change their specialty interests. Pre-clinicals were reported to have less impact on specialty choice compared to clinicals. Implementing factors such as shadowing and physician/peer mentorship, which may positively impact specialty choice, into pre-clinical curricula warrants further investigation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04731-1Specialty choiceSpecialty interestsMedical educationMentoringCurriculum |
| spellingShingle | Naveen Karthik Marjorie Greenfield Todd Otteson The perceived impact of curricular and non-curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the United States BMC Medical Education Specialty choice Specialty interests Medical education Mentoring Curriculum |
| title | The perceived impact of curricular and non-curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the United States |
| title_full | The perceived impact of curricular and non-curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the United States |
| title_fullStr | The perceived impact of curricular and non-curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | The perceived impact of curricular and non-curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the United States |
| title_short | The perceived impact of curricular and non-curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the United States |
| title_sort | perceived impact of curricular and non curricular factors on specialty interests and choice during medical school at a single center in the united states |
| topic | Specialty choice Specialty interests Medical education Mentoring Curriculum |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04731-1 |
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