Influence of eysenckian personality traits in choice of specialization by young omani doctors

Objectives: The role of personality in occupational specialty choices has been explored in many parts of the world. To our knowledge, there is a dearth of such studies in the Arab/Islamic population and Oman is no exception. This study aimed to explore the relationship between personality traits and specialty choice among residents of Oman Medical Specialty Board [OMSB]

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among Omani resident physicians working under OMSB. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised was employed to quantify personality subtypes [e.g., psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism]. Specialties were categorized as surgical, medical, and diagnostics as per standard of North American medical specialties. A total of 255 residents in 17 medical specialties participated in the study [m = 40.4%; f = 59.6%] of 300 eligible subjects giving a response rate of 85.0%. Results: Respondents who had chosen surgical specialties scored significantly higher on the psychoticism subscale than those who had opted for medical and diagnostic specialties

As for individual specialties, orthopedic respondents had statistically significant higher mean scores on psychoticism and neuroticism compared to radiologists and psychiatrists who scored the lowest in the two personality traits, respectively. Conclusions: This study found statistically significant associations between personality traits and choices of specialty by young Omani doctors. We recommend more detailed studies that examine further psychological and cultural variables that are likely to affect the choices of specializations by young Omani professionals in both medical and non-medical fields

Gender discrimination among medical students in Pakistan: a cross sectional survey

Objective: To examine the prevalence and magnitude of gender discrimination experienced by undergraduate medical students, and its repercussions on their academic performance and emotional health

Methodology: A cross sectional study of 500 medical and dental students studying at a private medical college in Lahore, Pakistan

Results: Majority [78%] of students reported being victims of gender discrimination. Females were the main perpetrators [70.8%]. Most common forms were denied opportunities [63%], followed by neglecting students' needs [44.3%], and unethical talk [43.6%]. Most common places of gender discrimination were teachers' offices [43.7%] and lecture halls [37.2%]. Most of the perpetrators were clerical staff [48%] and professors [43%]. Gender discrimination did not affect the academic performance of most victims [62.6%]. The most common emotional responses were anger [57.6%], frustration [46.7%] and helplessness [40.3%]. 52.4% of students said that gender discrimination still continues and the majority [83.3%] did not report the problem to college authorities

Conclusions: Results demonstrate that gender discrimination is widely prevalent in undergraduate medical education. Females are both the main victims as well as the main perpetrators. In most cases gender discrimination does not affect academic performance but does cause emotional distress