A Nationwide Study: Medical Students' Perceptions of Plastic Surgery and Its Role in Career Choice in Saudi Arabia

Background Plastic surgery is a dynamic field within medicine, shaped by various factors that impact medical students' perceptions and career choices. This study aimed to assess medical students' perceptions of plastic surgery as a specialty career and to examine factors influencing it, particularly understanding the impact of demographics, educational exposure, and media. Methods A cross-sectional study involved 777 medical students from diverse universities across Saudi Arabia. Students from both public and private medical colleges participated by completing an online questionnaire detailing their perceptions, exposure to plastic surgery, and career interests. Chi-square tests were used for the comparative analysis. Results The majority of participants were females, 64.2% (499 of 777), and only a small fraction expressed a strong interest in pursuing plastic surgery as a specialty, 10.9% (85 of 777), with social media and the internet emerging as influential sources of information. A majority of the students, 71.7% (557 of 777), acknowledged the impact of medical dramas on their career choice, while 42.3% (329 of 777) admitted to infrequently researching the topic online. Interestingly, while overall interest in plastic surgery was modest, preferences varied across clinical scenarios, with orthopedics and neurology/neurosurgery also receiving consideration. Academic performance, as measured by grade point average (GPA), did not significantly correlate with students' perceptions of plastic surgery. However, among female students, watching medical dramas was a significant influencing factor with a p-value of 0.001. Conclusion The findings highlight the complexity of factors influencing medical students' views on plastic surgery, stressing the need for focused educational efforts and mentorship initiatives. Early intervention to correct misconceptions and increase exposure to the specialty during medical training is crucial for cultivating interest and developing a knowledgeable workforce in plastic surgery.