Motivational factors influencing the choice of oncology as a specialty among French medical students.

BACKGROUND

There is limited data regarding what motivations are behind the choice of oncology (both medical oncology and radiation oncology) as a specialty among medical students. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the factors that motivate medical students to choose oncology as a specialty.

METHODS

Medical students of classes 2022 and 2023 in the Universities of Lille and Amiens (North of France) were enrolled in a quantitative online survey. Chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) and binary and multiple linear regressions were performed to identify the factors that determine the choice of specialty among the students.

RESULTS

Among 563 respondents (response rate: 45%) who participated in the survey, 14, 13, and 14 were considering oncology as their first (2.5%), second (2.3%), and third (2.5%) specialty choices, respectively. The CHAID analysis retained two factors: "rotation in the medical oncology unit" (p < .0001) and "identification with a physician practicing the desired specialty" (p = 0.049). The factors identified in the multivariate regression analysis (weighted according to first, second, or third choices) differed according to sex. In men, rotation in a radiation oncology unit (β = 0.190; p < 0.001) or a medical oncology unit (β = 0.227; p = 0.010) and interest in fundamental research (β = 0.063; p < 0.001) were positively associated with choosing oncology as a specialty, whereas working in rural areas (β=-0.094; p = 0.014) was negatively associated with choosing oncology as a specialty. In women, rotation in a medical oncology unit (β = 0.289; p < 0.001), interest in cultivating a long-term relationship with patients (β = 0.129; p < 0.001), and interest in a hospital-based career (β = 0.214;p < 0.001) were positively associated with choosing oncology as a specialty; whereas desire to see the results of treatments quickly (β=-0.143; p = 0.018) and working in rural areas (β=-0.153; p  = 0.006) were negatively associated with choosing oncology as a specialty.

CONCLUSIONS

Experience during hospital rotations plays a crucial role in the specialty choices made by medical students. The motivations behind choosing oncology as a specialty differ according to gender. Intrinsic motivations (interests in fundamental research or in cultivating a long-term relationship with patients) and contextual factors (rural life or interest in a hospital-based career) influence the specialty choices of medical students.