Exploring speciality preferences and the influencing factors among undergraduate medical students at University of Kufa, Iraq: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey

Objective: To explore medical students' preferences of career specialisation, and to investigate the factors that influence their choices. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Kufa, Iraq, from January 27 to February 21, 2019, and comprised medical students from the second to the sixth years. Data was collected using an anonymous, structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 25. Results: Of the 601 students approached, 566 (94%) participated; 311(55%) females and 255(45%) males. The largest group was of students in the second year 161 (28.45%), followed by third year 123 (21.73%), sixth 98(17.31%), fifth 93(16.43%) and fourth year 91(16.08%). Cardiology was the most chosen specialty 55(9.7%), followed by Paediatrics 46 (8.1%) and Dermatology 45(8%), while 40(7.1%) students had not decided yet. The reason for choice most cited were "My Passion" by 427(75.4%) students, "income" 67(11.8%), "less on-call duties" 51(9%), "mentor inspiration" 46(8.1%), "family member inspiration" 34(6%), "reputation" 22(3.8%), "less competition" 15(2.6%), and "number of residency years" 8(1.4%). Conclusion: Being passionate about a speciality was the major influencing factor for students while selecting their future speciality.