title: Perception, career choice and self-efficacy of UK medical students and junior doctors in urology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a growing concern about the reduced clinical exposure to urology at undergraduate level in the United Kingdom. As a consequence, the competencies of junior doctors are considered inadequate. The views of these doctors in training towards urology remain under reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  A modified Delphi method was employed to construct a questionnaire. Given the rise of social media as a platform for scientific discussion, participants were recruited via a social networking site. Outcomes assessed included career preference, exposure to urology, perceived male dominance, and confidence at core procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 412 and 66 responses were collected from medical students and junior doctors, respectively. Overall, 41% of participants felt that they had received a good level of clinical exposure to urology as part of their training and 15% were considering a career in this speciality. Female students were significantly less likely to consider urology as a career option (p < 0.01). Of these, 37% of the students felt confident at male catheterization and 46% of students regarded urology as a male-dominated speciality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urology is perceived as male dominated and is the least likely surgical speciality to be pursued as a career option according to our survey. Increased exposure to urology at the undergraduate level and dedicated workshops for core urological procedures are needed to address these challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK;
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK;
authors.forename: Bhavan Prasad
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.affiliation: Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, UK;
authors.forename: Hasan A R
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Qazi
authors.affiliation: Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, UK;
authors.forename: Bhaskar K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Somani
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK;
authors.forename: Ghulam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nabi