title: Factors influencing the career interest of medical graduates in obstetrics and gynaecology in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The trend of declining interest of medical graduates in pursuing obstetrics and gynaecology as a career has been observed in many overseas studies. This study aimed to evaluate the career interest of the most recent medical graduates in Hong Kong, especially their level of interest in obstetrics and gynaecology, and to identify key influential factors for career choice and career interest in obstetrics and gynaecology.
  
  
  METHODS
  All medical graduates from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong who attended the pre-internship lectures in June 2015 were invited to participate in this cross-sectional questionnaire survey. The main outcome measures were the level of career interest in obstetrics and gynaecology, the first three choices of specialty as a career, key influential factors for career choice, and key influential factors for career interest in obstetrics and gynaecology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 73.7% of 323 new medical graduates participated in the study and 233 questionnaires were analysed. The median score (out of 10) for the level of career interest in obstetrics and gynaecology was 3. There were 37 (16.2%) participants in whom obstetrics and gynaecology was among their first three choices, of whom 29 (78.4%) were female. Obstetrics and gynaecology ranked as the eighth most popular career choice. By factor analysis, the strongest key influential factor for career interest in obstetrics and gynaecology was clerkship experience (variance explained 28.9%) and the strongest key influential factor for career choice was working style (variance explained 26.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study confirmed a low level of career interest in obstetrics and gynaecology among medical graduates and a decreasing popularity of the specialty as a career choice. The three key influential factors for career interest in obstetrics and gynaecology and career choice were working style, clerkship experience, and career prospects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Christy Y Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Charleen S Y
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Annie S Y
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Career choice; Gynecology/education; Obstetrics/education; Students, medical