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- Title
Factors Influencing the Intention to Pursue Surgery among Female Pre-Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan.
- Authors
Martins, Russell Seth; Fatimi, Asad Saulat; Ladak, Shamila; Jehanzeb, Hamzah; Saleh, Raisa; Kumar, Gaurav; Kaleem, Shamama; Saad, Muhammad; Akbar, Inaara; Abbas, Manzar; Nadeem, Sarah; Malik, Mahim A.
- Abstract
Background: While gender disparities in surgery are documented worldwide, it is unclear to what extent women consider surgery as a career before embarking on their medical school journey. This study aimed to report the percentage of pre-medical women in Pakistan who intend to eventually specialize in surgery and assess the factors motivating and deterring this decision. Methods: An online survey was conducted among female pre-medical (high school) students across Pakistan. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine motivating and deterring factors associated with the intention to pursue surgery. Results: Out of 1219 female high-school students, 764 (62.7) intended to join medical school. Among these 764, only 9.8% reported an exclusive intent to pursue surgery, while just 20.3% reported considering other specialties in addition to surgery. Significant motivators to pursue surgery exclusively were the intellectual satisfaction of pursuing surgery (adjusted odds ratio: 2.302), having opportunities to travel internationally for work (2.300) and use cutting-edge technology (2.203), interest in the specialty of surgery (2.031), the social prestige of becoming a surgeon (1.910), and considering one's personality well-suited to surgery (1.888). Major deterrents included the lack of interest in surgery (adjusted odds ratio: 3.812), surgical education and training being too difficult (2.440) and lengthy (1.404), and the risk of aggressive behavior from patients (2.239). Conclusion: Even before entering medical school, most female pre-medical students have already decided against considering a future surgical career. Deterrents likely stem from women being pressured to conform to deep-seated societal expectations to dedicate their time and energy to domestic responsibilities.
- Subjects
PAKISTAN; CROSS-sectional method; AGGRESSION (Psychology); SURGICAL education; AT-risk behavior; ODDS ratio
- Publication
World Journal of Surgery, 2022, Vol 46, Issue 9, p2063
- ISSN
0364-2313
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00268-022-06589-8