Factors affecting choice of specialty among first-year medical students of four universities in different regions of Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the factors affecting medical students' choice of the specialty of family medicine.


METHODS
The study was conducted in the period from 2004-2006 and comprised 770 first-year medical students from Ondokuz Mayis, Karadeniz Technical, Kocaeli, and Adnan Menderes Universities, Turkey. The questionnaire included questions on demographic data and 6 "yes/no" or open-ended questions on students' career aspirations and the specialty of family medicine.


RESULTS
The response rate was 93.1% (n=717, 54.7% male). Nearly all students (n=714, 99.6%) showed an intention to specialize after receiving the medical doctor degree. A total of 187 students (26.2%) showed an intention to work in primary care without specialization "for a temporary period" to "gain some experience." Family medicine was the least preferred specialty (n=7, 0.9%). The most important reasons for the choice of specialty were "better financial opportunities" and "prestige" (n=219, 30.5%), followed by "personal development" (n=149, 20.8%), "more benefits for the patient" (n=128, 17.9%), and "wish to work in an urban area" (n=32, 4.5%). The most preferred specialties were cardiology (n=179, 25.0%), pediatrics (n=121, 16.9%), ophthalmology (n=47, 6.6%), physical therapy and rehabilitation (n=34, 4.7%), and obstetrics and gynecology (n=32, 4.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Prestige, money, and personal development are important factors in career decision-making among medical students in Turkey. This should be taken into consideration when conducting reforms at the primary level.
Dikici
Mustafa Fevzi
MF
Department of Family Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey.
Yaris
Fusun
F
Topsever
Pinar
P
Tuncay Muge
Filiz
F
Gurel
Fazil Serdar
FS
Cubukcu
Mahcube
M
Gorpelioglu
Suleyman
S
D002755:Choice Behavior; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013038:Specialization; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014495:Universities