Choosing general surgery: Insights into career choices of current medical students. Discussion

HYPOTHESIS: The number of unfilled general surgery programs in the United States increased from 4 in 1999 to 41 in 2001. This study seeks to determine if changes in student attitudes occurring during their medical school careers and during the third-year general surgery clerkship contribute to a decline in interest in a surgical career. DESIGN: Prospective survey of medical students at a public medical school in California. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Each medical student received a survey via the Internet. Responses were anonymous. Once quantified, chi(2) analysis was used for comparison and analysis of survey results. Comparisons were made between individual class years and on the basis of whether the respondent completed the third-year general surgery clerkship. RESULTS: Of 368 surveys sent, 232 (63%) were successfully completed and included in the study. Comparison of students' attitudes before and after completion of their general surgery clerkship showed that following surgical course exposure more students believed surgery lacked breadth of expertise, limitations over stress, control over one's time, regularity of schedule, adequacy of leisure time, and income commensurate to workload (P