title: Multi-center survey of House officers' choice of Medical specialties in Nigeria: preferences and determining factors.
abstract: The objective of the study was to determine preferences and factors influencing the choice of medical specialties by House officers. Questionnaires were distributed to House-officers in 4 tertiary hospitals namely: the National hospital, Abuja, the University of Port-Harcourt, the Jos University, and the University of Uyo Teaching Hospitals. The data were simultaneously collected and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 version. Of the 150 questionnaires distributed, 129(86%) were duly filled. The mean age was 22.4 years (range 21-40 years), 79(61.2%) of the respondent were male. Fifty-nine(45.7%) chose training within the country while 32(24.8%) preferred outside as 107(86%) chose training in Teaching Hospitals. Teachers, Resident doctors and parents influenced choices in 34(26.3%), 17(13.1%) and 16(12.4%) respectively. Thirty-four(26.3%), 28 (21.7%), 13(10.1%) and 15(11.6%) preferred obstetrics, surgery, internal medicine and paediatrics respectively. Seventy (46.7%) chose specialties for personal likeness and 17(11.3%) for role models in that specialty. House officers preferred to pursue medical specialty in teaching hospitals within the country and they are motivated by personal fulfillment, independence of practice and role models while more prefer to specialize in more Obstetrics/ Gyaenocology and surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kelechi Emmanuel
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Okonta
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Idorenyin Cletus
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Akpayak
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ezekiel Olatunde
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Amusan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Eyo Effiong
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ekpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Yahaya Baba
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Adamu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Ossai
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Ocheli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009042:Motivation; D009549:Nigeria; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: House officer; Medical specialty; determining factors; tertiary hospital