Exploring the Factors Influencing Medical Students’ Decision-making in Pursuing Surgical Career Paths at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: The discipline of surgery has become an increasingly less attractive medical specialization for medical students in Saudi Arabia. There has been growing worry over the last decade regarding the reduction in the number of medical students who wish to pursue a career in surgery. This trend has been attributed to various factors that include lifestyle, income, and gender. For the new generation, lifestyle issues and family considerations have become increasingly significant. In addition, there are fewer female role models in surgery for the ever-increasing number of female medical students. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the popularity of surgery among the medical students at Jazan University in Saudi Arabia, as well as the factors that influence their decision. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, from November 2021 to March 2022. The study population comprised 407 medical students enrolled in Jazan University. Data were collected using a self-administered online survey, distributed via students’ E-mail addresses, and shared across various social media platforms to ensure maximum participation. The survey was designed to gather comprehensive information on students’ demographics, including age, gender, academic year, and parental background. In addition, Likert scale questions were included to assess students’ opinions on various factors influencing their preference for a surgical career, particularly about their father’s and mother’s profession. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) by IBM Inc. Descriptive statistics were calculated to summarize the demographic characteristics of the participants and the distribution of responses to Likert scale questions. Results: The study’s findings revealed that multiple factors play a significant role in shaping the popularity of surgery among medical students. Notably, personal traits emerged as influential factors affecting students’ decision pursuing a career in surgery. In addition, gender was found to have a pronounced impact, with differences observed in the inclination toward surgery between male and female students. Furthermore, the place of residence was identified as another contributing factor influencing students’ preferences for a surgical career. Conclusions: The popularity of the surgical career in Saudi Arabia depends on the factors that discourage or encourage the students to choose the career. Thus, enhanced student awareness is required to meet the required workforce in surgical specialties.

Keywords

• factors
• students
• surgical