Table 3 Themes and sub-themes on factors influencing the choice of specialty by medical students in LMICs

 Controllable lifestyle

20 (69.0)

[17, 23, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50, 52, 56]

 Economic concerns

20 (69.0)

[17, 23, 30,31,32,33, 35, 36, 39, 41, 42, 44,45,46,47, 49,50,51, 54, 56]

 Job prospects

10 (34.5)

[17, 23, 30, 32, 41, 44, 49,50,51,52]

 Immigration opportunities

1 (3.4)

[51]

 Quality of working life

18 (62.1)

[17, 23, 31, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 41, 42, 44,45,46,47, 49,50,51, 56]

 Future working conditions

17 (58.6)

[23, 30,31,32,33, 35, 39, 41, 42, 44,45,46,47, 49, 51, 52, 56]

 Career requirements

15 (51.7)

[17, 23, 30, 33, 35, 36, 41,42,43, 45,46,47,48,49,50]

 Specific personal factors

23 (79.3)

[17, 23, 30,31,32, 34, 35, 37,38,39, 41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48, 50,51,52, 54, 56]

 Specific career interests

14 (48.3)

[23, 30, 32, 33, 41, 42, 44,45,46,47, 49,50,51, 56]

 Values and attitudes

12 (41.4)

[17, 30, 32, 35, 39, 44, 45, 47, 50, 53, 55, 56]

 Demographic features

9 (31.03)

[36, 40, 43, 46, 48, 49, 52, 53, 55]

 Practice orientation

8 (27.6)

[23, 42, 45,46,47, 50, 51, 56]

 Socioeconomic status

2 (6.9)

[38, 41]

 Specialty training factors

13 (44.8)

[17, 23, 32, 39, 41,42,43,44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52]

 General training factors

8 (27.6)

[23, 33, 34, 42, 45, 50, 51, 54]

 Encouragement and advice

17 (58.6)

[17, 23, 32, 35, 38, 41, 44,45,46,47, 49,50,51,52, 54, 56]

 Effect of role models

15 (51.7)

[17, 23, 31,32,33, 42, 44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52]