Table 3 Individuals factors influencing the choice of a specialty
From: Factors influencing student’s specialty choices in Lomé faculty of medicine (Togo)
Medical specialties N = 98 n (%) | Surgical specialties N = 65 n (%) | gynecology N = 47 n (%) | Fundamental sciences N = 15 n (%) | Public health N = 14 n (%) | Pediatric N = 10 n(%) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Individuals factors: balance between work and personal life | |||||||
No emergencies | 26 (24.1) | 15 (23.1) | 0 (0) | 8 (53.3) | 7 (50) | 0 (0) | 0.0001 |
Absence of custody | 27 (25) | 16 (24.6) | 0 (0) | 8 (53.3) | 7 (50) | 0 (0) | 0.0001 |
Advantageous hours of work | 30 (27.8) | 18 (27.7) | 3 (6.4) | 7 (46.7) | 5 (35.7) | 0 (0) | 0.003 |
Capable of night work | 21 (20.4) | 23 (35.4) | 21 (44.7) | 0 (0) | 1 (7.1) | 1 (10.00) | 0.001 |
Spouse’s advice | 6 (5.6) | 3 (4.6) | 6 (12.8) | 1 (6.7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.3 |
Family constraint | 12 (11.1) | 7 (10.8) | 7 (14.9) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.3 |
Individual factors: personal skills and competences | |||||||
Personal skills | 71 (65.7) | 44 (67.7) | 35 (74.5) | 14 (93.3) | 11 (78.6) | 9 (90.0) | 0.2 |
Known as easy specialty | 2 (1.9) | 2 (3.1) | 3 (6.4) | 0 (0) | 1 (7.1) | 0 (0) | 0.5 |
Physical inability to exercise another specialty | 4 (3.7) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (7.1) | 0 (0) | 0.4 |
Personal inability to exercise another specialty | 2 (1.9) | 2 (3.1) | 1 (2.1) | 1 (6.7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.7 |
Individuals factors: Contact with patients | |||||||
Be in contact with patients | 83 (76.9) | 60 (92.3) | 41 (87.2) | 3 (20) | 2 (14.3) | 10 (100) | 0.0001 |
Avoid contact with patients | 10 (9.3) | 2 (3.1) | 0 (0) | 5 (33,3) | 7 (50) | 0 (0) | 0.0001 |
Personal financial factors | |||||||
Default choice | 15 (13.9) | 4 (6.2) | 7 (14.9) | 1 (6.7) | 1 (7.1) | 0 (0) | 0.4 |
Lack of financial support | 10 (9.3) | 12 (18.5) | 5 (10,6) | 2 (13.3) | 1 (7.1) | 0 (0) | 0.4 |
Post graduate cycle not available in my country | 10 (9.3) | 2 (3.1) | 0 (0) | 3 (20.0) | 2 (14.3) | 0 (0) | 0.02 |