A Research on the Factors Affecting the Preference of Medical Specialization Branches

Nazife Öztürk; Mehmet Gençtürk

doi:10.20883/medical.e691

Authors

Nazife Öztürk Akdeniz University, European Union Research and Application Center, Antalya, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7552-5723
Mehmet Gençtürk Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty Of Economıcs And Admınıstratıve Scıences, Business Administration, Isparta, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2608-7664

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20883/medical.e691

Keywords:

Specialization Choice in Medicine, Specialization Branch Preferences in Medicine, Specialist Physicians, Mixed Research Design

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting the preferences of specialization in the field of medicine.

Materials and Methods. Mixed research and exploratory sequential research design were used. In the exploratory phase, data were collected from specialist physicians (n=14) and findings were analyzed by descriptive and content analysis. In the light of qualitative findings, a measurement tool was developed and applied to medical school students and the physicians who prepared specialty exams (n = 502).

Results. Qualitative findings were structured under 3 themes: individual, occupational and systemic factors. The measurement tool, which was named “Physicians' Preference Tendencies of Specialty Branch” was structured as 42 items and 7 dimensions: risk, comfort, health problems, status, emotional interest, gender, and marital status emerged.

Conclusions. Although there are many factors that affect preferences of the medical field, it is concluded that personality traits and idealism of individuals and mortality rates associated with branch or field of medicine are the most significant professional factors, while the risks and the exposure to violence and the application of the additional payment based on the performance of candidates are the systemic factors that affect selections and preferences. Also, it was concluded that qualitative data obtained in the research were supported with quantitative data.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Nazife Öztürk, Akdeniz University, European Union Research and Application Center, Antalya, Türkiye

Correspondence address: nazifeozturk@akdeniz.edu.tr
Mehmet Gençtürk, Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty Of Economıcs And Admınıstratıve Scıences, Business Administration, Isparta, Türkiye

Correspondence address: mehmetgencturk@sdu.edu.tr

References

Davis DA, Thomson MA, Oxman D, Brian R. Changing Physician A Systematic Review of the Effect of Continuing Medical Education Strategies. JAMA. 1995;274(9):700-705.

Cassel CK, Reuben DB. Specialization, Subspecialization, and Subsubspecialization in Internal Medicine. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(12):1169-1173.

Freeman B, Freeman BS. The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. Second. Lange Medical Books/McGraw Hill.; 2004.

Avgerinos ED, Msaouel P, Koussidis GA, Keramaris NC, Bessas Z, Gourgoulianis K. Greek medical students ’ career choices indicate strong tendency towards specialization and training abroad. Heal Policy 79. 2006;79:101-106. doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2005.12.007

Guraya SY, Almaramhy HH. Mapping the factors that influence the career specialty preferences by the undergraduate medical students. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2018;25(6):1096-1101. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2017.03.019

Barbosa-Camacho FJ, Miranda-Ackerman RC, Vázquez-Reyna I, et al. Association between HEXACO personality traits and medical specialty preferences in Mexican medical students: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Psychol. 2020;8(1). doi:10.1186/s40359-020-0390-0

Rojewski JW, Kim H. Career Choice Patterns and Behavior of Work-Bound Youth During Early Adolescence. Vol 30.; 2003.

Hauer KE, Durning SJ, Kernan WN, et al. Factors Associated With Medical Students ’ Career Choices Regarding Internal Medicine. 2008;300(10).

Detsky AS, Gauthier SR, Fuchs VR, Fuchs D. Specialization in Medicine How Much Is Appropriate? JAMA. 2012;307(5):463. doi:10.1787/data-00541-en

Kwon OY, Park SY. Specialty choice preference of medical students according to personality traits by Five-Factor Model. Korean J Med Educ. 2016;28(1):95-102.

Barat A, Goldacre MJ, Lambert TW. Career Choices and Career Progression of Junior Doctors in Dermatology: Surveys of UK Medical Graduates. Dermatol Res Pract. 2018;2018. doi:10.1155/2018/2092039

Dorsey ER, Jarjoura D, Rutecki GW. The Influence of Controllable Lifestyle and Sex on the Specialty Choices of Graduating U . S . Medical Students , 1996 – 2003. Acad Med. 2005;80(9):791-796.

Takeda Y, Morio K, Snell L, Otaki J, Takahashi M, Kai I. Characteristic profiles among students and junior doctors with specific career preferences. BMC Med Educ. 2013;13(1). doi:10.1186/1472-6920-13-125

Petrides K V., McManus IC. Mapping medical careers: Questionnaire assessment of career preferences in medical school applicants and final-year students. BMC Med Educ. 2004;4. doi:10.1186/1472-6920-4-18

Weissman C, Tandeter H, Zisk-rony RY, et al. Israeli medical students ’ perceptions of six key medical specialties. Isr J Health Policy Res. 2013;2(1):1-11.

Yıldırım A, Şimşek. H. Sosyal Bilimlerde Nitel Araştırma Yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayıncılık; 2003.

Gürbüz S, Şahin F. Sosyal Bilimlerde Araştırma Yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayıncılık.; 2016.

Tabachnick, B. G, & Fideli L. Using Multivariate Statistics (Fourth Edition). Fourth Edi. Boston: Ally And Bacon; 2001.

Bedoya-vaca R, Derose KP, Romero-sandoval N. Gender and physician specialization and practice settings in Ecuador : a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res. Published online 2016:1-12. doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1917-1

Murata A, Tahara M, Komiyama M, Ichikawa S, Takemura YC. What determines medical students ’ career preference for general practice residency training ?: a multicenter survey in Japan. Asia Pac Fam Med. Published online 2018:2-7. doi:10.1186/s12930-018-0039-9

Heiligers PJM, Hingstman L. Career Preferences and the Work±family Balance in Medicine: Gender Differences among Medical Specialists. www.elsevier.com/locate/socscimed

Khader Y, Al-Zoubi D, Amarin Z, et al. Factors affecting medical students in formulating their specialty preferences in Jordan. BMC Med Educ. 2008;8. doi:10.1186/1472-6920-8-32

Park KH, Jun S-K, Park IB. A qualitative study on physicians’ perceptions of specialty characteristics. Korean J Med Educ. 2016;28(3):269-279. doi:10.3946/kjme.2016.33

Lee H. H. K, T.K. L, Fleming B, Vikis E, Yoshida EM. Factors influencing career choices made by medical students, residents, and practising physicians. B C Med J. 2007;49(9):482.

Buddeberg-fischer B, Klaghofer R, Abel T, Buddeberg C. Swiss residents’ speciality choices – impact of gender, personality traits , career motivation and life goals. 2006;9. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-6-137

Heiligers PJM, Hingstman L. Career preferences and the work ± family balance in medicine : gender differences among medical specialists. 2000;50:1235-1246.

Han JJ. Global Doctor’s Role And Outcome-Based Medical Education. Ewha Med J. 2013;36:3-8.