Factors that Influence the Choice of Medical Specialty by Medical Students of an Educational Institution in Curitiba (PR)

ABSTRACT Choosing a medical specialty is extremely important for medical students as it represents the choice of their day-to-day practice. While this choice is influenced by academic achievement, financial considerations and lifestyle preferences, intrapersonal aspects also have an impact on the decision. Objectives To evaluate the main factors that influence medical students in their choice of medical specialty, and to identify the areas of practice preferred by students in the first four years of a Higher Education Institution. Results Out of a total of 397 students, 307 answered a questionnaire previously prepared for this study, and of these, 291 were considered valid. 204 female, and 87 male. Influencing factors were compared among students from different years, and with results published in the literature. The main factors considered by the students in this decision were: broader or specific knowledge, contact with the patient, place of professional activity, and lifestyle after medical residency. For the women, the factors day-to-day stress of the specialty, the long-term relationship with the patient, and the ease of finding a job were significantly more relevant in the choice of specialty than for the men. Parents who were doctors also influenced the choice of specialty. The student’s financial profile influenced the choice when related to long-term financial returns, being more relevant for students with monthly family incomes at the higher or lower ends of spectrum, i.e., - between 6 and 15 thousand Brazilian reals, or more than 20 thousand Brazilian reals. The specialty General Surgery was the first choice , predominantly among the male students, followed by Pediatrics, Clinical Medicine and Psychiatry. Conclusions Lifestyle, place of professional activity and early financial returns were considered equally important by students across all the years evaluated. Due to the large number of variables evaluated, and the many factors that influence this decision, additional studies are needed, in order to make more significant comparisons with the literature.