Exploring awareness, perceptions, and career interest in interventional radiology among medical students in Multan, Pakistan: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Interventional radiology (IR) is a rapidly evolving medical specialty that utilizes minimally invasive, image-guided procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, awareness and career interest in IR remain limited, particularly in Pakistan. This study aims to assess the awareness, perceptions, and career interest in IR among medical students in Multan, Pakistan, and identify factors influencing their knowledge and willingness to pursue IR as a specialty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among MBBS students from multiple medical colleges in Multan, Pakistan. A structured questionnaire, adapted from previous studies, was distributed via Google Forms, and responses were collected between May and June 2025. The questionnaire covered demographic details, awareness and knowledge of IR, perceptions of IR's role in healthcare, and career interest in the field. Ethical approval was obtained from the Nishtar Institutional Review Board. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 362 students participated in the study. Among them, 29% had no prior knowledge of IR, and only 5.2% demonstrated a solid understanding of the specialty. The main sources of IR awareness were social media (23.2%) and senior doctors (21%), whereas only 18.2% learned about IR through their medical curriculum. Although 60.8% recognized IR as a crucial medical specialty, only 18.8% expressed strong interest in pursuing it as a career. The most significant barriers included a lack of structured IR education (69.6%) and limited mentorship (15.4%). CONCLUSION: Medical students in Multan exhibit limited awareness and formal exposure to IR, despite acknowledging its significance in modern healthcare. Enhancing IR education, integrating structured training programs, and providing mentorship could increase career interest and bridge the gap between knowledge and professional opportunities in Pakistan.