Negative Impact of Smaller Hometown Size on the Educational Experience of Medical Students: A Nationwide Study in Saudi Arabia

TL;DR

Medical students from smaller towns in Saudi Arabia have less exposure to medical specialties, which affects their educational experience and specialty choices.

Contribution

This nationwide study identifies hometown size as a key factor influencing medical specialty exposure among Saudi students.

Findings

Students from smaller cities reported significantly lower specialty exposure scores compared to those from larger urban centers.

Gender disparities were observed, with female students having lower exposure scores.

The study highlights the need for equitable initiatives to improve specialty exposure for all students.

Abstract

Background and objective

Saudi Arabia's rapid medical education expansion has posed unique challenges for its students, particularly concerning specialty selection. Having broad exposure to medical specialties is crucial for making informed decisions. This study explores how the size of students' hometowns influences their exposure to their preferred specialty, thereby affecting their choice.

Methods

Our cross-sectional study collected data from medical students in their 4th and 5th years, interns, and graduates across Saudi Arabia. An electronic survey gathered information about medical specialty choice, interest levels, students’ self-ranking compared to their peers, and level of exposure to the chosen specialty. Overall exposure to specialties was quantified by tallying participants' experiences in preclinical observerships, didactic lectures, research projects, core and elective rotations, and attended conferences. We divided the students into three city sizes: primary urban centers, intermediate urban cities, and small townships and compared the outcomes between these three groups.

Results

Responses were obtained from 1,072 participants, with 424 (39.6%) from primary urban centers, 367 (34.2%) from intermediate urban cities, and 281 (26.2%) from small townships. Student hometown size was an independent predictor of specialty exposure, with students from smaller cities reporting lower exposure scores (OR = 0.73, (0.63-0.84), p<0.01). The study also identified gender disparities in exposure, with female students found to be correlated with a lower exposure score (OR = 0.72, (0.58-0.89), p<0.01).

Conclusion

City size is a significant determinant of specialty exposure for Saudi medical students. These findings highlight the need for initiatives that promote equal educational experiences, ensuring comprehensive specialty exposure to all students.