Identifying factors influencing specialty choice in urology by female medical students

As of 2019, females represented 11% of the urology workforce in Canada. Lack of female role models, quality of life, and gender/sex discrimination may be important deterrent factors to female applicants entering surgical specialties. Limited research exists on which factors are important in choosing urology as a specialty by female applicants. In this study, we aimed to determine which factors affect specialty choice in urology by medical school applicants and to identify any disparities by sex.

From November 2022 to May 2023, a survey was diffused to medical students enrolled in all Canadian medical schools. The questionnaire included 23 factors that may affect specialty choice. A five-point Likert scale was used to assess each factor's influence on the student's interest in urology. Pearson-Chi squared test was used to compare response rates between sexes.

A total of 424 Canadian medical students responded to the survey. Common incentivizing factors for choosing urology as a specialty was medical-surgical approach, doctor-patient relationship, and financial benefits. Common deterrent factors were perception that urology is a male-dominated field, lifestyle of surgical residencies, and lack of female role models in urology. Females were more likely to report lower clinical exposure to urology and be deterred by the male predominance in the field.

While female medical students are more likely to be disincentivized to choose urology as a specialty due to it being a male-dominated field, early exposure through research, role models, or shadowing is essential to incentivize interest in urology among female medical students.