Factors Influencing the Choice of Surgery as a Future Career among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Multi-Institutional Study in Edo State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: There are concerns in some countries regarding a decline in medical students' interest in pursuing surgery as a career. Our study aimed to assess interest in a surgical career and the factors influencing medical students' career choices. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving medical students in the three clinical years at three medical schools in Edo State, southern Nigeria. Participants completed an online questionnaire on their sociodemographic characteristics, interest in surgery as a career, and factors influencing their career choices. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 828 out of 1091 eligible students participated in the study, with a response rate of 75.90%. There were 390 (47.10%) males and 438 (52.90%) females, with a mean age of 23.25 ± 3.02 years. Among the participants, 413 (49.90%) were in year 4, 208 (25.10%) in year 5, and 207 (25.00%) in year 6. Overall, 47.50% of students expressed interest in pursuing a surgical career, with general surgery (15.50%) and cardiothoracic and vascular surgery (15.30%) being popular choices. Reasons for considering surgery included the application of practical skills (94.70%) and intellectual stimulation (93.10%). Concerns about surgeons' busy lifestyle (78.20%) and lengthy training duration (63.00%) were major deterrents. Males showed a higher inclination towards surgery than females (54.70% vs. 45.30%). CONCLUSION: Many medical students are interested in pursuing a career in surgery, with factors like hands-on work and academic interest influencing their choices. Addressing concerns about surgeons' lifestyle and training duration could help attract more students to the field. Tailored mentorship programmes, enhanced training opportunities, and improved compensation for surgeons could potentially strengthen the surgical workforce in Nigeria. Limitations of the study include its cross-sectional design and focus on medical students in Edo State.