COMPARISON BETWEEN CAREER CHOICES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN FIRST YEAR MBBS AND CAREER CHOICES OF SAME STUDENTS IN SECOND YEAR MBBS

Background:Career choice is very important for every medical student even in firs year because if they don’t know their path and destination how they can walk through it. Purpose of our study is to find career choice in first and second year, factors responsible for making or changing a choice and their practice station. Methodology:It is an observational study in which 102 students of RAI medical college Sargodha were given questionnaire. Their career choice in 1st and 2nd year, factors influencing career choice and practice station was asked in that questionnaire. Result:Total 101(99%) students filled and returned performas. In our study 56(54.5%) participants were females and 46(45.5%) were males (6). Out of 101 students 66 (65.34%) students decided their career in 1sr year and did not change in second year. Among males cardiology is most preferred specialty in 1st year (26%) as well as 2nd year (23.91%) followed by general surgery and internal medicine. Among females cardiology is most preferred specialty in 1st year (23.63%) as well as 2nd year (18.18%). In 1st year cardiac surgery (12.72%) and obstetrics and gynaecology (10.9%) is next preferred specialty. In 2nd year obstetrics and gynaecology (16.36%) and dermatology (10.9%) is most preferred specialty. Most influencing factor is personal interest in both genders (83.16%). Most people preferred Pakistan as practice station (65.35%). Conclusion:This study showed mostly students chose clinical specialties. A few students have idea about new emerging fields. This study emphasizes the need of career counseling of medical student in early phase. Career guidance is also important for those students who remained undecided about their career even after house job