The specialty choice of clinical year students at the Ibadan Medical School.

This is a cross-sectional study of first and final year clinical students of the University of Ibadan, aimed at highlighting the students' preference for specialties, its evolution in the course of training and its correlation with demographic variables. One hundred and twenty-one first year clinical and 150 final year students participated, representing 81% and 89% response rates, respectively. Whereas at the time of study 92.9% of the students intended to specialise, over 81% of this group opted for surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology and general practice. Only 5.5% of the cohort chose radiology, psychiatry, community medicine, anaesthesia and pathology. Surgery was the most popular specialty. No socio-demographic factors seemed associated with specialty choice. Specialty choice, evident before entry into the University in 42.9% of the cohort, evolved during the course of training, being affected mainly by interest aroused during the postings and the need for self-fulfilment. Specialty choice tended to fluctuate over the years. Innovativeness and dedication on the part of teachers can arouse the interest of students during posting, so that specialty choice can be more evenly spread to meet national health manpower needs.