Specialty and Lifestyle Preference Changes during Medical School.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Medical student specialty choices have significant downstream effects on the availability of physicians and, ultimately, the effectiveness of health systems. This study investigated how medical student specialty preferences change over time in relation to their demographics and lifestyle preferences.

Method

Students from ten medical schools were surveyed at matriculation (2012) and graduation (2016). The two surveys included questions about specialty and lifestyle preferences, demographics, educational background, and indebtedness. Student data from 2012 to 2016 were paired together and grouped into those whose specialty preferences remained constant or switched.

Results

Response rates in 2012 and 2016 were 65% (997/1530) and 50% (788/1575), respectively. Four

SUBMITTER: Fischer JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8368833 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature