title: Factors influencing Saudi medical students and interns' choice of future specialty: a self-administered questionnaire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explores the most influential factors affecting Saudi medical students and interns' choice of specialty at the University of Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was distributed during the period from June 1 to June 14, 2013. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to test the association between participants' choices and the motivational factors that led to their choice of specialty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred sixty-eight (44.7%) participants chose lifestyle as their most influential factor for the choice of their specialty. Significantly more medical interns considered lifestyle as an important factor compared to medical students (P=0.020). Internal medicine was the preferred specialty for 56 participants (14.77%) followed by family medicine for 35 participants (9.2%). Thirty-four participants (8.97%) chose general surgery, and 27 participants (7.1%) chose both pediatrics and emergency medicine. Sex influences indicated that men preferred pediatrics and emergency medicine (P=0.033 and P=0.0006, respectively), while women preferred family medicine practice (P=0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saudi medical students and interns at the University of Dammam were influenced mostly by lifestyle when they considered their future specialty. Internal medicine, family medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and emergency medicine were the preferred specialties.
authors.affiliation: King Fahad Hospital of the University, Dammam University, Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alshahrani
authors.affiliation: King Fahad Hospital of the University, Dammam University, Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bander
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dhafery
authors.affiliation: King Fahad Hospital of the University, Dammam University, Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Mulhim
authors.affiliation: King Fahad Hospital of the University, Dammam University, Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alkhadra
authors.affiliation: King Fahad Hospital of the University, Dammam University, Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Doaa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al Bagshi
authors.affiliation: King Fahad Hospital of the University, Dammam University, Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Noor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bukhamsin
keywords: interns; lifestyle; medical students; motivational factors; specialty preference