Factors influencing the choice of specialty among medical students in Lebanon.
BACKGROUND
We focus on graduating students from two medical schools in Lebanon to identify the proportions who select primary care careers, to highlight factors that are considered when making a career choice, and to compare these among primary care (PC) and non-primary care (NPC) candidates.


METHODS
Anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used to assess student demographics, chosen career, and perceived level of importance concerning 27 career influencing factors using a 5-point Likert scale.


RESULTS
127 (97%) students responded. 53 (42%) students selected primary care. 20 (61%) of the females were in the primary care group. Among all, the most important factors scored (3.30 to 3.06) represent: "intellectual opportunities", "match of personal interest and skills" and "helping and social responsibilities". Least important factors scored (1.96 to 1.13) and represent: "encouragement/role models", "clerkships and courses", and "residency issues". "Diversity in diagnosis and treatment" and "emphasis on patient education and prevention" were significantly higher for the primary care career groups (p = 0.001, p = 0.001) and "working with new technology" significantly more important (p = 0.001) for the non-primary care group.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the students surveyed "intellectual opportunities", "match of personal interest and skills" and "helping and social responsibilities" were the most important criteria reported to influence their choice of career in medicine.
Khater-Menassa
Beatrice
B
Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
Major
Stella
S
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013038:Specialization; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires