Department of Surgery, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia.
J Clin Neurosci. 2024 Nov;129:110851. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2024.110851. Epub 2024 Sep 26.
The specialties chosen by medical students after graduation are critical to their professional trajectories. This study investigates the perceptions of medical students at Jazan University in southwestern Saudi Arabia toward neurosurgery, focusing on the factors that influence their inclination to pursue this specialty.
An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 342 medical students from the Faculty of Medicine at Jazan University during the 2022-2023 academic year. The participants included students ranging from second- to sixth-year levels.
Among the 342 students, 207 (60.5 %) were males, and 135 (39.5 %) were females, with 169 (49.4 %) expressing interest in neurosurgery. Over time, there was a trend of decreasing interest in neurosurgery. The primary reasons for choosing this specialty were market demand for neurosurgeons and potential for substantial income, while stress was the main deterrent. Multivariate analysis revealed that third-, fourth-, and fifth-year students were significantly less likely to pursue neurosurgery, with reductions of 89 % [OR=0.11, 95 % CI: (0.04-0.29), p < 0.001], 83 % [OR=0.17, 95 % CI: (0.07-0.43), p < 0.001], and 74 % [OR=0.26, 95 % CI: (0.11-0.61), p = 0.002], respectively. The strongest motivating factors for choosing neurosurgery were research opportunities [OR=2.37, p < 0.001] and the prestige associated with the specialty [OR=2.35, p < 0.001].
The study provides valuable insights into medical students' perceptions and career aspirations related to neurosurgery in southern Saudi Arabia. It highlights key factors such as research opportunities, prestige, and competitiveness that motivate students to consider neurosurgery as a specialty. The study also addresses common misconceptions and stereotypes about neurosurgery, promoting a more accurate understanding of the field among students. These findings have significant implications for medical education, career guidance, and healthcare policy, helping to shape initiatives that enhance patient care and support the development of neurosurgery.
医学生毕业后选择的专业对他们的职业轨迹至关重要。本研究调查了沙特西南部的吉赞大学医学生对神经外科的看法，重点关注影响他们选择该专业的因素。
在 2022-2023 学年期间，对吉赞大学医学院的 342 名医学生进行了一项观察性横断面研究。参与者包括从二年级到六年级的学生。
在 342 名学生中，有 207 名（60.5%）是男性，135 名（39.5%）是女性，有 169 名（49.4%）对神经外科感兴趣。随着时间的推移，对神经外科的兴趣呈下降趋势。选择该专业的主要原因是神经外科医生的市场需求和潜在的高收入，而压力是主要的阻碍因素。多变量分析显示，三、四、五年级学生选择神经外科的可能性显著降低，降低幅度分别为 89%[OR=0.11，95%CI：（0.04-0.29），p<0.001]、83%[OR=0.17，95%CI：（0.07-0.43），p<0.001]和 74%[OR=0.26，95%CI：（0.11-0.61），p=0.002]。选择神经外科的最强动机因素是研究机会[OR=2.37，p<0.001]和专业的声望[OR=2.35，p<0.001]。
本研究提供了有关沙特阿拉伯南部医学生对神经外科的看法和职业抱负的有价值的见解。它强调了研究机会、声望和竞争力等关键因素，这些因素促使学生考虑神经外科作为一个专业。该研究还解决了关于神经外科的常见误解和刻板印象，在学生中促进了对该领域更准确的理解。这些发现对医学教育、职业指导和医疗保健政策具有重要意义，有助于制定举措，提高患者护理水平，支持神经外科的发展。
