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E. A. Elbashier, O., O. A. Ibrahim, M., M. A. Abdalla, H., A. I. Elseed, H., H. I. Rahama, H., & A. A. Abbas, Y. (2023). Awareness of Final-Year Medical Students of Omdurman Islamic University on Their Career Choices. Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS), 18(1), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.18502/sjms.v18i1.12863

https://doi.org/10.18502/sjms.v18i1.12863

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authors

  • Omer E. A. Elbashier

    Omer E. A. Elbashier

    Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman Islamic University (OIU), Khartoum, Sudan
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6814-6757
  • Maab O. A. Ibrahim

    Maab O. A. Ibrahim

    Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Khartoum, Sudan
  • Hatoon M. A. Abdalla

    Hatoon M. A. Abdalla

    Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Khartoum, Sudan
  • Hefa A. I. Elseed

    Hefa A. I. Elseed

    Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Khartoum, Sudan
  • Hiba H. I. Rahama

    Hiba H. I. Rahama

    Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Khartoum, Sudan
  • Yusra A. A. Abbas

    Yusra A. A. Abbas

    Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Khartoum, Sudan

Published Date

  • Mar 31, 2023

Awareness of Final-Year Medical Students of Omdurman Islamic University on Their Career Choices

Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS) / Sudan JMS: Volume 18 (2023), Issue No. 1 / Pages 37–47

Abstract

Background: Medical students undergo a complex process as a student to make a career decision and pursue further specialization. This study explores the factors that influence the career choices of the two genders studying in the final year of medicine at Omdurman Islamic University.
Methods: This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 194 male and female fifth-year medical students studying at Omdurman Islamic University. The questionnaire contains 15 multiple-choice questions to determine the factors affecting students’ career choices – lifestyle, income, family impact,…etc. – and the association between gender and the specialties they choose to pursue.
Results: The specialties were preferred in the following order: surgery by 22.9%, internal medicine by 18.3%, obstetric gynecology by 13.8%, and pediatric by 10% (limited to the four major specialties). The least chosen specialties were histopathology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and anesthesia (all were 0.9%). Family medicine and forensics were not chosen by any participant. Females significantly preferred dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, otolaryngology, and pediatrics compared to their male counterparts. Whereas, males compared to females significantly preferred orthopedics and surgery. The factors influencing change in students’ specialties based on their gender were family views and family obligations. Nearly 80% of students choose a career based on personal interest; lifestyle and financial reward were also seen to play an important role in choosing a specialty. About 91% of participants agreed that there is a need for guidance. A great proportion of final-year students (62%) preferred to specialize abroad and related it to a good lifestyle and financial stability.
Conclusion: This study showed that the students’ awareness about specialty choices was limited to certain specialties as seen in the literature. The most preferred specialties were surgery (22.9%), internal medicine (18.3%), obstetrics and gynecology (13.8%), and pediatric (10%). There are many factors influencing the selection of specialties, however, the most common one is personal interest followed by lifestyle issues and financial reward. Additionally, there is a significant gender difference in career-choice decisions.

Keywords:

career choice, preferred medical specialty, awareness toward specialty

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