Perceptions and Factors That Influence the Choice of Pathology as a Career Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

TL;DR

This study explores why few Saudi medical students choose pathology as a career, finding that limited patient interaction is a major deterrent.

Contribution

The study provides insights into the perceptions and factors influencing Saudi medical students' career choices in pathology.

Findings

Only 19.6% of students expressed interest in pathology, with just 2.9% considering it their primary career choice.

Female students had a more favorable perception of pathology compared to male students.

Limited patient interaction was identified as the main factor discouraging students from choosing pathology.

Abstract

Introduction

Pathologists play a pivotal role in diagnosing diseases and improving patient care. Nonetheless, research indicates that a mere fraction of medical school graduates opt for a career in pathology, ranging from 1% to 3%. Diverse factors influence students' perceptions of pathology, encompassing lifestyle, patient interaction, and income.

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions and factors that influence students' selection of pathology as a career in Saudi Arabia.

Methodology

A cross-sectional, self-administered electronic questionnaire was distributed among students from various regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire encompassed both quantitative and qualitative data. To ensure statistical rigor, a confidence level of 95%, response distribution of 10%, and margin of error of 5% were applied. Accordingly, the recommended sample size of 150 participants was determined. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with the chi-square test applied at a significance level of P < 0.05.

Results

Among the 664 participating students, 130 (19.6%) indicated an interest in pathology, of whom only 19 (2.9%) regarded it as their primary choice. No statistically significant difference was found between the male and female students or between the students in foundational and clinical years.

Conclusions

The female students generally held a more favorable perception of pathology, acknowledging its clinical significance and role in diagnosis, prognosis, and patient management. The absence of nocturnal calls emerged as the most encouraging factor, while limited patient interaction emerged as the primary deterrent in choosing pathology.

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