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Potential targets to encourage a surgical career
Susan I Brundage1, Anthony Lucci, Charles C Miller
1Department of Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Journal of the American College of Surgeons
|June 1, 2005
Summary
Medical students perceive surgery as intellectually challenging with good career opportunities, but lifestyle concerns deter interest. Addressing these factors in education may attract more students to surgical careers.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Training
- Career Development
Background:
- Identifying factors influencing medical students' career choices in surgery is crucial.
- Medical education can be a strategic point to encourage surgical careers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors targeted in medical education to encourage surgical careers.
- To understand student perceptions of surgical careers.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey administered to first and fourth-year medical students.
- Students rated perceptions of surgery on a Likert-type scale.
- Student gender and career preferences were recorded.
Main Results:
- First-year students correlated surgery positively with career opportunities and technical skills, but negatively with training length and lifestyle.
- Fourth-year students also noted positive aspects like role models and financial rewards, but negative factors included training length and lifestyle.
- Interest in surgery decreased from first to fourth year for both male and female students, with a steeper decline in females.
Conclusions:
- Lifestyle concerns are primary barriers for students considering surgery.
- Intellectual challenge, career opportunities, and technical skills are recognized strengths of surgery.
- Highlighting positive attributes like role models and financial rewards may enhance recruitment.