Why are fewer medical students in Florida choosing obstetrics and gynecology?

To determine why there has been a decrease in the amount of applicants to Florida-based obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) residency programs, and how this has been affected by the current medical liability climate.

Fourth year Florida medical students were surveyed about their concerns of a career in OB/GYN. The students were then grouped into three categories: students never interested in OB/GYN, students at one point interested in OB/GYN, and students pursuing a career in OB/GYN. The groups were analyzed for differences in their concerns about OB/GYN and the impact it had on their final career decisions. Finally, we addressed the question of whether or not medical liability played a significant role in their career choice.

From September to November of 2005, 198 total students were surveyed. Of those surveyed, 10.8% were applying for OB/GYN, 47.7% had considered OB/GYN but chose another field, and 41.5% never considered OB/GYN as a specialty. The primary and secondary reasons for not choosing OB/GYN were the same in the two groups pursuing different specialties; "more interested in a different specialty" and "desire a specialty with more predictable work hours/lifestyle," respectively. Approximately 27% of those who considered OB/GYN but did not choose it ranked "fear of being sued" first or second, compared with 6.7% of those who never considered it (P < 0.01). Of the 21 students who will pursue careers in OB/GYN, 85.7% stated they are considering leaving Florida because of high malpractice/litigation.

There is a subgroup of students in Florida who were initially interested in OB/GYN but may have been deterred by current medical liability issues. Florida is a state known as being in a professional liability crisis and this survey demonstrates evidence that this has adversely affected students' decisions to pursue OB/GYN.