Factors Influencing the Postgraduate Training Choices of Medical Interns and Junior Medical Officers at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Guyana

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the specialty preferences and the reasons for those choices among medical interns and junior medical doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Guyana. Methods: A cross-sectional study of recent medical graduates at GPHC using anonymous self-administered questionnaires was used. Results: Of the study population of 66, 60 of the questionnaires that were filled were returned (response rate of 91.5%). The females comprised 60% of the respondents and 98% of the respondents were interested in Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME). Paediatrics was the most popular programme (25% of the respondents) followed by internal medicine (21%), and the main reason among the respondents for their choice of training programme was personal interest (69%). Gender differences occurred in paediatrics and ophthalmology where the females were predominant, and in orthopaedics and anaesthesia, where the males were predominant. Conclusion: To ensure an adequate and balanced medical specialists workforce for the future, information on medical graduates' perceptions and preferences of PGME and the factors influencing their choices is important to policy planners and medical educators and efforts must be made to correct any of the maldistributions noted.

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.

Specialty Preference of the Premedical School Students in Taegu City / 한국의학교육

This study was conducted to examine the specialty preference of premedical students and evaluate it's associated factors. The self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted covering 208 premedical students(127 national university students and 81 private university students) and the respondents were 164(response rate 78.8%). Among 164 students, 33(20.1%) didn't decide the specialty yet. The students preferred psychiatry most at 12.2%, and pediatrics, internal medicine and neurosurgery in order. Male students preferred general surgery, thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and ophthalmology and ENT, on the other hand, female students preferred psychiatry, pediatrics, and internal medicine. Most important factor which influenced on the selection of specialty was student's character and others are acquisition of high quality medical technology, opportunities of service to the public and chances for getting a job, in order.