engleski

Career preferences: differences in medical students’ choice between their first and 6th (last) year

Background: The reasons why medical students choose their future careers are complex. Factors such as public opinion, prestige, personal abilities, job opportunities, lifestyle preferences, expected income, etc stand on one side, and influence of the real and of the “hidden” Medical School curriculum on the other. The aims of this study were to investigate (a) differences in specialty preferences of the same medical students’ generation at the entry and at the end of their study and (b) to identify factors affecting their decision process. Summary of work: The study was carried out at the University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, with a self-administered questionnaire completed by 193 first year medical students (acad.year 2006/7) and 196 sixth year students (acad.year 2011/12) which represents the same generation at the end of their studies. Both surveys showed that surgery as a specialty stays at the top of their interest. By the end of their study, however, there is an increasing interest for internal medicine and pediatrics, while no changes for psychiatry. Importantly, the interest for family medicine is raising whatsoever (4, 1% vs. 11, 7%). Factors influencing these results are discussed. Conclusion: Alongside all other factors, students' experiences during medical school have significant impact on their specialty choice. Since School of Medicine has a social responsibility to account for the health care needs, these results could recommend the necessity of modifying and reorienting medical curricula.

medical students; career preferences; Croatia

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