Society of University SurgeonsWhat influences medical students' choice of surgical careers*
Section snippets
Methods
In mid-1999, 205 medical students at the beginning of their third and fourth year at NortheasternOhio Universities College of Medicine, a 6-year combined BS-MD medical school, were surveyed by telephone interview. The survey was conducted by surgical residents and medical students. Surveyors identified themselves as being associated with
Results
Of 205 phone surveys, 76 (37%) were completed and included in the study. At least 3 attempts were made to contact the students at various times during the day. Inability to establish contact was the main hindrance to the method. Six students refused to participate. The third-year medical students accounted for 56.6% (n = 43) and fourth-year students accounted for 43.4% (n = 33) of the sample. The male:female ratio was 42:34. Average age was 23 years.
Results were divided into 2 groups for
Discussion
This study was prompted by the declining match rates in surgical residencies in the past 3 years, reflecting a possible decrease in student interest in surgery.8, 9, 10 Much emphasis has been placed in recent years on how to increase student interest in primary care fields, but little attention has been directed toward the effects this may have on the field of surgery attracting capable residents.
This study attempted to address this issue by surveying third- and fourth-year medical students.
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Reprint requests: Jeffrey R. Rubin, MD, Chairman, Department of Surgery, Forum Health, 500 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown, OH 44501.