Specialty Preference Among the Newly Passed Medical Graduates and Factors Affecting It

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to identify the prevailing trend of specialty related career choices and major factors affecting it amongst the newly passed medical graduates of West Bengal, India. It was a questionnaire based cross sectional study. A total of 600 young doctors participated in the study; out of 600, 301 (50.16%) had opted for surgery and allied branches whereas 273 (45.50%) opted for medicine and allied branches. Only 26 (4.37%) had chosen pre and para clinical subjects as their desired area of specialization. According to their choice, their preferred disciplines were Radio diagnosis 106 (17.66%), Orthopedics 95 (15.83%) , Gynae and Obstetrics 88 (14.66%), Pediatrics 64 (10.66%), General Medicine 59 (9.83%), General Surgery 32 (05.33%) and Ophthalmology 39 (06.50%). Amongst the male candidates, subjects selected in order of preference were Orthopedics 95 (28.10%), Radio diagnosis 67 (19.82%), Pediatrics 35 (10.35%), General Medicine 30 (8.87%), General Surgery 23 (06.80%), and Ophthalmology 21 (06.21%). Male doctors had no inclination for pre and Para clinical subjects. Whereas female doctors opted for Gynae and Obstetrics 73 (27.86%), Radiology 39 (14.88%), Pediatrics 29 (11.06%), General Medicine 29 (11.06%) and Ophthalmology 18 (06.87%). Noteworthy 26 (9.92%) female candidates had shown interest for pre and Para clinical subjects. Among the reasons concerned behind these choices of specialty, major factors were anticipating high earnings 207 (34.58%), passion for the subject 175 (29.17%), better quality of life 125 (20.83%). The huge disparity between nation's needs and area of interest of the emerging medical graduates is taking the toll in the terms of wastage of human resources and government funds. Counselling programmes for career development is necessary to make each specialty equally lucrative and interesting to the candidates. Necessary changes and rectifications may be required. This should be supported by the necessary government initiative and changing social attitude.

Medical Specialization, Technological Innovation and Women Doctors

“…In India, merit (PG rank) in post graduate (PG) entrance examination is an important determining factor. 8 . Very often, students are bound to choose a specialty without their interest in it.…”

Social Accountability: From Hospital to Society

“…The priority health concerns, and health workforce needed for any country, are to be identified jointly by their governments, health care organizations, health professionals and the public [8]. In modern medicine, social medicine, which includes community medicine, primary health care, family medicine, is given secondary priority for graduates [9,10]. This trend has been adding to the gap in human resources in primary health care.…”