Considering obstetrics and gynecology as a specialty: current attractors and detractors.

We surveyed senior students at 11 medical schools to identify the criteria they used in considering obstetrics and gynecology (OBG) as a career. Nearly half (49.6%) of the students responded. Their demographic characteristics compared well with national figures. Regression analyses identified 15 significant predictors of specialty choice among the 445 students who ranked OBG as one of their top four choices. More women than men chose OBG. Students attracted to the specialty liked contact with (mostly healthy) patients. They expressed strong beliefs on reproductive issues and perceived a need for more obstetrician-gynecologists. They associated their interests in operative procedures with certain risks and responsibilities. Physicians in OBG modestly affected their decision. Students who chose a different specialty wanted more variety in disease and patient mix. They wanted a more controllable life-style, particularly in residency training. They felt that the insurance costs and the risk of lawsuit detracted from OBG. These findings offer a stimulus for discussion between students and their advisors. Students need sufficient exposure to the specialty to help them assess the value they place on these specialty characteristics.