Differences in Factors Affecting Medical Specialty Choices between Medical College Students and Graduate Medical School Students / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the specialty preference and factors that affect choices of medical specialties between medical college students and graduate medical school students. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was conducted in 563 medical students, and 482 (graduates: 199, undergraduates: 283) responded (response rate, 85.61%). The students completed a brief survey, which included 39 items that sampled their demographic data, career choice, and factors that influenced their choice. RESULTS: Most students in medical college and graduate medical school preferred clinical medicine. Graduate medical school students preferred internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine. In contrast, medical college students preferred neurology, family medicine, and psychiatry. Important factors that affected the selection of specialties were seniors' advice, advice of other students, clerkship experiences, and specialty experiences. CONCLUSION: This result shows that there are differences in the factors that affect the selection of medical specialties between medical college students and graduate medical school students. But, the opportunity to explore future careers and to consult their choice of specialty, in accordance with the needs and characteristics of individual students, must be provided for all medical students.

A Case of Intestinal Tuberculosis Concurring with Endobronchial and Laryngeal Tuberculosis

Although the incidence of tuberculosis has been reduced recently because of the advance of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, improvements of public health, and early diagnosis, it is still high in developing countries. Intestinal tuberculosis can occur at any age, but young adults and female are more affected. Early diagnosis of childhood intestinal tuberculosis is difficult, largely because of vague symptoms and nonspecific signs. Recently, tuberculosis of the larynx combined with pulmonary tuberculosis has become quite a rare disease since anti-tuberculous chemotherapy and preventive activities are prevalent. Laryngeal tuberculosis, while relatively well recognized in the adult population, is a rare disease in chidren and adolescents. There are few reports of intestinal tuberculosis combined with endobronchial and laryngeal tuberculosis in children. We have experienced a case of intestinal tuberculosis which concurred with endobronchial and laryngeal tuberculosis in an 18-year-old girl who presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, a brassy cough, and anemia, which was diagnosed by a colonoscopy and bronchoscopy with biopsy.

A Case of Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia with Measles / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

Measles is a highly infectious virus that attacks almost all susciptible individuals. In both the prevaccination and postvaccination areas, severe illness has been associated with the following factors : young age, malnutrition, crowded conditions, unvaccinated status, congenital or acquired immune deficiency, and coexistence of other severe infections. Underlying diseases or conditions related to the provocation of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis have included exhausted infants due to chronic malnutrition as well as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS), malignancies, congenital immune deficiency disorders, and organ transplantation. We experienced a 10-year-old male patient with long-lasting fever and progressive dry coughing, since 20 days prior to the transfer to our hospital. In the local pediatric center he was diagnosed as measles pneumonia with chronic malnutritional state due to poor oral feeding and parenteral nutritional support for a long time. At admission, physical findings were slightly dehydrated tongue, fading rash on his face and trunk, tachypea, mild dyspnea, and subcutaneous emphysema on his neck and chest. Subcutaneous emphysema was progressive and pneumomediastinum occured and then a chest tube was inserted on his thorax cavity. Stupum culture for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis was positive on hospital day 8. He was treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and fully recovered and discharged on hospital day 29.