• Nicole J Borges, R Stephen Manuel, Ryan D Duffy, Dinah Fedyna, and Bonnie J Jones.
• Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45401-0927, USA. nicole.borges@wright.edu
• Med Teach. 2009 Dec 1; 31 (12): 1086-8.

BackgroundGiven changing trends in specialty choices among medical students coupled with continued challenges associated with medical specialty decision-making, it is important for medical educators to understand how students make decisions about their medical career. Medical educators should be aware of how medical school-based experiences and interactions such as faculty, courses, and services impact students' specialty choices and decisions.AimThe study determined if differences in influences on specialty decision-making exist for students entering person-oriented specialties versus technique-oriented specialties.MethodsThree hundred and fifty-six fourth-year medical students completed a questionnaire about how the faculty, curriculum, student services, mentoring and professional development programs, lifestyle considerations, family/friends, and other factors influenced their choice of specialty.ResultsChi-square analyses indicated that students pursuing person-oriented specialties compared to technique-oriented specialties were moderately more likely to be influenced by their personal physician, by school faculty, and by medical school activities; slightly more likely to be influenced by medical school offices and services; and slightly less likely to be influenced by income expectations.ConclusionsStudents interested in person-oriented specialties versus technique-oriented specialties indicate differences in what influences their specialty choice. This study may be helpful to medical educators and advisors who work with students on specialty decision-making.

16 keywords...

hide…