Medical Students' Perceptions of Pathology Education in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pathology
• Career Development

Background:

• Understanding medical students' career choices is crucial.
• Factors influencing pathology career perception are diverse and linked to early exposure.
• Early pathology education significantly shapes students' views.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess Jordanian medical students' perception of pathology as a career.
• Identify variables influencing their specialty decisions.
• Determine preferred medical specialties among Jordanian students.

Main Methods:

• Observational cross-sectional study of medical students (2nd-6th year) and recent graduates in Jordan.
• Web-based self-administered questionnaire for data collection.
• Descriptive statistics and inferential tests (Pearson's Chi-squared, Fisher's exact) in R 4.4.2.

Main Results:

• Perceived adequacy of early pathology training correlated with understanding the pathologist's role, case-based learning, course ratings, and perception of pathologists as introverts.
• No significant differences in age, gender, or background were found across training exposure groups.
• Early training exposure did not significantly influence consideration of pathology as a future specialty.

Conclusions:

• Early medical school pathology education is a key determinant in shaping student perceptions of the specialty.
• Targeted interventions during the first three years can enhance understanding and potentially interest in pathology.
• Further research is needed to explore specific educational components that positively influence career choices in pathology.