1. Gender Associated with the Intention to Choose a Medical Specialty in Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in 11 Countries in Latin America
- Author
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Ng-Sueng, L.F., Vargas-Matos, I., Mayta-Tristán, P., Pereyra-Elías, R., Montenegro-Idrogo, J.J., Inga-Berrospi, F., Ancalli, F., Bonilla-Escobar, F., Diaz-Velez, C., Gutierrez-Quezada, E., Gomez-Alhach, J., Muñoz-Medina, C.E., Sanchez-Pozo, A., Vidal, M., Pozo, A.M.S., Cardozo López, Juan Pablo, Panozo, S.L., Villar, R., Morales, R.S., Adauy, G.A., Toloza, P.A., De Aguilera Aedo, R.O., González, J.P.S., Brito, I.N., Avendaño, J.S., Romero, F., Alhach, J.G., Escobar, F.B., Calixto, O., Cardona, Á.M., Arias, J.L.O., Cifuentes, L.A., Acosta, K., Ospina, M., Ruíz, G.D.L., Cifuentes, A.F.Q., Ortega, I.B., Valverde, C., Fernández, J.B., Urrutia, L.E.C., Moya, G., Yescas, G., León, M.V., Gutiérrez, E., Peralta, R.M.I.A., Sulca, R.V., Urbina, J.A.G., León, Franco, Diaz, C., Cabrera, J., Berrospi, F.I., Muñoz, K.M., Loaiza, O.M., Torres, M.M., Figueroa, J.Á., Dextre, M.T., Purizaca-Rosillo, N., Vidal, O.R., Chambi, D.E.V., Alfonso, M., Castagnino, D.L., Mogollón, C., Maquera, J., Johnson Franco, Mario, Gómez, G.F., Castro, J.J., Vela, E.J.J., Sampé, M.O., García, G.R.V., Anaya, K.R.H., Calizaya, F.A., Lázaro, L.E.G., Medina, C.E.M., Rodríguez, Manuel Alejandro, and Da Silva-Abreu, A.
- Subjects
Male ,general surgery ,Medical psychology ,Latin Americans ,Students, Medical ,020205 medical informatics ,Cross-sectional study ,Cancer Treatment ,purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#5.04.01 [https] ,lcsh:Medicine ,02 engineering and technology ,Intention ,Pediatrics ,Pediatric Surgery ,0302 clinical medicine ,Secondary analysis ,Pediatric Cardiology ,Pediatric surgery ,statistics and numerical data ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,gender ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Young adult ,lcsh:Science ,Role models ,child ,obstetrics ,Multidisciplinary ,Career Choice ,career choice ,dermatology ,Surgical Oncology ,medical student ,Oncology ,Obstetric Procedures ,cardiology ,oncology ,Female ,Research Article ,Clinical Oncology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,pediatrics ,purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#5.04.02 [https] ,sex difference ,sociodemographic factors ,Cardiology ,Specialty ,MEDLINE ,Surgical and Invasive Medical Procedures ,Dermatology ,psychology ,medical school ,decision making ,South and Central America ,03 medical and health sciences ,Young Adult ,Sex Factors ,pediatric surgery ,cross-sectional study ,Humans ,human ,behavior ,business.industry ,gynecology ,lcsh:R ,Medical Students ,major clinical study ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Latin America ,Pediatric Oncology ,Family medicine ,lcsh:Q ,secondary analysis ,Clinical Medicine ,business - Abstract
Introduction The selection of a medical specialty has been associated with multiple factors, such as personal preferences, academic exposure, motivational factors and sociodemographic factors, such as gender. The number of women in the medical field has increased in recent years. In Latin America, we have not found any studies that explore this relationship. Objective To determine whether there is an association between gender and the intention to choose a medical specialty in medical students from 11 countries in Latin America. Methods Secondary analysis of the Collaborative Working Group for the Research of Human Resources for Health (Red-LIRHUS) data; a multi-country project of students in their first year and fifth year of study, from 63 medical schools in 11 Latin American countries. All students who referred intention to choose a certain medical specialty were considered as participants. Results Of the 11073 surveyed students, 9235 indicated the name of a specific specialty. The specialties chosen most often in the fifth year were General Surgery (13.0%), Pediatrics (11.0%), Internal Medicine (10.3%) and Obstetrics/Gynecology (9.0%). For women, the top choices were Pediatrics (15.8%), Obstetrics/Gynecology (11.0%), Cardiology (8.7%), General Surgery (8.6%), and Oncology (6.4%). In the adjusted analysis, the female gender was associated with the choice of Obstetrics/Gynecology (RP: 2.75; IC95%: 2.24-3.39); Pediatric Surgery (RP: 2.19; IC95%: 1.19-4.00), Dermatology (RP: 1.91; IC95%:1.24-2.93), Pediatrics (RP: 1.83; IC95%: 1.56-2.17), and Oncology (RP: 1.37; IC95%: 1.10-1.71). Conclusions There is an association between the female gender and the intention to choose Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, Dermatology, and Oncology. We recommend conducting studies that consider other factors that can influence the choice of a medical specialty.
- Published
- 2016