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Gender differences in specialty preference among medical Students at Aleppo University: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:This study aims to identify gender differences in specialty preference and career choice among Syrian medical students. METHOD:A cross-sectional study comprising currently enrolled second, fourth and sixth year medical students at Aleppo University was conducted. Demographics, specialty preferences and factors influencing this decision were collected and analyzed. RESULTS:A total of 561 students (44% males, 56% females) responded to our survey (87% response rate). Surgical specialties (40%) and internal medicine (16%) comprised the two most common specialties chosen by males. In contrast, the majority of females preferred other specialties (17%), internal medicine (16%) and surgical specialties (15%). The most common factor affecting the choice of a specialty by both genders (74% females and 71% males) was 'A specialty that I like and find interesting'. Work/life balance and anticipated income were the second most common influencing factors by females (62%), males (67%), respectively. The majority of both genders supported the idea that medical students should be able to pursue any medical specialty they want, regardless of their gender. However, females more often believed that they had decreased opportunities for professional advancement based on their gender compared to males (33% vs. 4% respectively, p?

SUBMITTER: Asaad M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7275529 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Gender differences in specialty preference among medical Students at Aleppo University: a cross-sectional study.

Asaad Malke M Zayegh Obada O Badawi Joud J Hmidi Zina Shikh ZS Alhamid Ahmad A Tarzi Mario M Agha Sarab S

BMC medical education 20200605 1

<h4>Background</h4>This study aims to identify gender differences in specialty preference and career choice among Syrian medical students.<h4>Method</h4>A cross-sectional study comprising currently enrolled second, fourth and sixth year medical students at Aleppo University was conducted. Demographics, specialty preferences and factors influencing this decision were collected and analyzed.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 561 students (44% males, 56% females) responded to our survey (87% response rate) ...[more]

PMID: 32503519

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Project description:BackgroundThe shortage of doctors and maldistribution among specialties are of great concern in the Japanese health care system. This study investigated specialty preference in medical students of one university, and examined gender differences and compared their preference with real needs.MethodsWe conducted a self-administered questionnaire including specialty preference in all students of one medical university. Preference was assessed by the five-level probability of their future choice: 1 = very low, 2 = low, 3 = moderate, 4 = high, and 5 = very high. The proportion of 4 or 5 was calculated as the preference rate. The real needs (magnitude of doctor shortage) in the prefecture were drawn from two different surveys. The relationship between the sex-specific preference rate by specialty and real needs was assessed by Spearman's correlation coefficient.ResultsInternal medicine showed the highest preference rate, followed by general surgery, pediatrics, and emergency medicine. There was no significant correlation between the preference rates of men and women (r = 0.27, p = 0.34). The preference rates for general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and emergency medicine were significantly higher in men than in women, while those of obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics, and dermatology were significantly higher in women. The magnitude of doctor shortage by specialty from two surveys were significantly correlated with the total preference rate and men's preference rate (r = 0.54 to 0.74), but not with women's preference rate (r = 0.06 and 0.32).ConclusionsThis study elucidated not only gender differences in specialty preference but also the relationship to real needs. Critical gender differences and mismatch with real needs were found in women. In addition to traditional gender roles and insufficient support for women's participation in Japan, gender differences and mismatch influence the current and future maldistribution of specialties. Systematic changes in the working environment in medical society are required to solve these problems.

Project description:Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of malignancy in Syria. The aim of our study was to assess the awareness and knowledge of CRC and its screening methods among medical students at the University of Aleppo. Methods A cross-sectional study of medical students at the University of Aleppo was conducted using a self-administered 12-element questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of demographics, awareness of CRC, knowledge of CRC and its screening methods. Awareness of CRC included three questions asking students if they ever heard of CRC and its screening methods. Knowledge of CRC was evaluated through three sets of questions about CRC risk factors, signs and symptoms, and preventative methods. The students were selected randomly during academic lectures. A χ 2 or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables were used for statistical analysis, as appropriate. A two-sided p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We stratified students based on pre-clinical versus clinical years and average academic score. Results A total of 824 students completed the questionnaire. The majority of students were aware of CRC (98.9%) and CRC screening methods (79.8%). Students had poor knowledge of CRC risk factors (16.5% for non-modifiable factors and 11.7% for modifiable factors), signs and symptoms (52.6%), and protective factors (9.9%). Only 31.7% of students were able to identify the appropriate age to initiate screening for average-risk individuals. Clinical students had better awareness and knowledge of CRC and its screening methods. Clinical students with higher academic score showed better awareness and knowledge in some elements. Conclusion Our study reported high awareness and poor knowledge rates of CRC and its screening methods among medical students at the University of Aleppo. Although clinical students had higher awareness and knowledge of CRC compared to pre-clinical students, the impact of academic score revealed variable results.

Project description:ObjectivesAssessing medical students' attitudes toward patient-centred care is essential to bettering medical education. Based on doctor-patient relationships and the medical system in China, it is important to explore the impact of gender differences and other background factors on patient-centred attitudes and to provide references for medical education reform.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on fourth-year medical undergraduate students from November 2017 to March 2018 in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China. The Chinese-revised Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (CR-PPOS), which has been validated in previous research, was used to measure the medical students' attitudes. The medical students' demographic data was collected, including their gender, age, information on whether they have siblings, family residence location, doctor(s) for parents, year in which the student first experienced clinical practice, and student category.ResultsA total of 513 students (91.12%) completed the survey. The Chinese medical students scored considerably higher for 'Caring' (including patients' preferences into the decision-making process) than for 'Sharing' (sharing information/responsibility with patients). These students tended to have patient-centred attitudes, as measured by an average overall CR-PPOS score of 3.63 (scores higher than 3.5 indicate patient-centred attitudes), which is higher than Malian (3.38) and Pakistani (3.40) medical students but lower than American (4.57) and Brazilian (4.66) students. Female students (P < 0.05) were significantly associated with more patient-centred attitudes and with higher 'Sharing' and 'Caring' subscale scores. Student category (P < 0.05) was associated with 'Sharing' and 'Caring' scores. Clinical hospital students (P < 0.05) were associated with more patient-centred attitudes and with higher 'Sharing' and 'Caring' subscale scores, Students without siblings (p < 0.07) were associated with the higher 'Sharing' subscale scores.ConclusionsIn China, gender has a significant impact on medical students' patient-centred attitudes, which is similar to findings from other countries. If medical schools want to raise patient-centred attitudes across the board and bridge the gap between male and female patient-centred attitudes, gender, student category, and other factors should be incorporated into medical education.

Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate the determinants of specialty choice among graduating medical students in Spain, a country that entered into a severe, ongoing economic crisis in 2008.SettingSince 2008, the percentage of Spanish medical school graduates electing Family and Community Medicine (FCM) has experienced a reversal after more than a decade of decline.DesignA nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted online in April 2011.ParticipantsWe invited all students in their final year before graduation from each of Spain's 27 public and private medical schools to participate.Main outcome measuresRespondents' preferred specialty in relation to their perceptions of: (1) the probability of obtaining employment; (2) lifestyle and work hours; (3) recognition by patients; (4) prestige among colleagues; (5) opportunity for professional development; (6) annual remuneration and (7) the proportion of the physician's compensation from private practice.Results978 medical students (25% of the nationwide population of students in their final year) participated. Perceived job availability had the largest impact on specialty preference. Each 10% increment in the probability of obtaining employment increased the odds of preferring a specialty by 33.7% (95% CI 27.2% to 40.5%). Job availability was four times as important as compensation from private practice in determining specialty choice (95% CI 1.7 to 6.8). We observed considerable heterogeneity in the influence of lifestyle and work hours, with students who preferred such specialties as Cardiovascular Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynaecology valuing longer rather than shorter workdays.ConclusionsIn the midst of an ongoing economic crisis, job availability has assumed critical importance as a determinant of specialty preference among Spanish medical students. In view of the shortage of practitioners of FCM, public policies that take advantage of the enhanced perceived job availability of FCM may help steer medical school graduates into this specialty.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Gender is an important social determinant, that influences healthcare. The lack of awareness on how gender influences health might lead to gender bias and can contribute to substandard patient care. Our objectives were to assess gender sensitivity and the presence of gender stereotypes among swiss medical students. METHODS:A validated scale (N-GAMS - Nijmegen Gender Awareness in Medicine Scale), with 3 subscores assessing gender sensitivity (GS) and gender stereotypes toward patients (GRIP) and doctors (GRID) (ranging from 1 to 5), was translated into French and was distributed to all medical students registered at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland in April-May 2017. Reliability of the three subscales was assessed calculating the alpha Cronbach coefficient. Mean subscales were calculated for male and female students and compared using two sample t-tests. A linear model was built with each subscale as a dependent variable and students' sex and age as covariables. RESULTS:In total, 396 students answered the N-GAMS questionnaire, their mean age was 22?years old, 62.6% of them were women. GS and GRID sub-scores were not significantly different between female and male students (GS 3.62 for women, 3.70 for men, p =?0.27, GRID 2.10 for women, 2.13 for men, p =?0.76). A statistically significant difference was found in the GRIP subscale, with a mean score of 1.83 for women and 2.07 for men (p <?0.001), which suggests a more gender stereotyped opinion toward patients among male students. A trend was observed with age, gender sensibility increased (p?<?0.001) and stereotypes decreased (GRIP p =?0.04, GRID p =?0.02) with students getting older. CONCLUSION:Medical students' gender sensitivity seems to improve throughout the medical curriculum, and women students have less stereotypes towards patients than men do. The implementation of a gender-sensitive teaching in the medical curriculum could improve students' knowledge, limit gender bias and improve patients' care.

Dataset Information

Gender differences in specialty preference among medical Students at Aleppo University: a cross-sectional study.

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Gender differences in specialty preference among medical Students at Aleppo University: a cross-sectional study.

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