RESUMEN
To Identify factors affecting medical specialty preferences and associated gender differences in Fourth Year MBBS students. This was a Cross-sectional survey conducted on fourth year MBBS students of Lahore Medical and Dental College through a Preformed Structured questionnaire by non probability sampling technique. The student were told that the survey was voluntary and were given a choice of refusal but fortunately all the students in the class participated in the survey [n=120]. Data was collected during January 2009. Data was analyzed using SFSS v. 16.0. Descriptive statistics were computed, and the relationship between specialty preference and categorical variables [gender, reasons for choosing a particular specialty] were evaluated using Pearson Chi square test. A calculated p value of = 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Our study revealed that students selected surgery [40[33%]] as the most preferred post graduate specialty followed by medicine [17[14%]] and Obstetrics/Gynecology [16[13%]] respectively. Female medical students picked Obstetrics/Gynecology [16[24%]] while male medical students opted for Surgery as their most preferred specialty [28 [51%]]. This gender difference in specialty preference was statistically significant with a p value of < 0.00. The most common reasons for choosing a particular specialty were reputation [general perception among people] of the specialty [46[38%] and anticipated income [22 [18%]]. The most common reasons cited by students for choosing a particular specialty was reputation of the specialty followed by anticipated income and advice from parents. Gender differences were found in career preferences