Assessment of Determinants for Choosing Medical Sciences as a Career Path amongst Medical Students of University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Background and Aim: Presently, medical students form a vital group of aspiring health professionals that are trained in order to assist in promoting healthcare worldwide. However, there is need to understand how these students derive motivation based on various determinants that enable them in choosing to study related disciplines in medical sciences – hence the aim of this present study. Materials and Methods: Using a qualitative, survey research design, this cross-sectional study comprising of two hundred (200) pre-medical and medical students (98 males and 102 females) between the ages of 16 to 25 years were randomly selected from the University of Port Harcourt and issued a semi-structured questionnaire containing two sections: socio-demographic variables and the determinants influencing career choice in medical sciences. Results: The majority of respondents in the age range of 16 – 19 years (accounting for a combined 88.0% of student population) did fill their study questionnaires. There were significant age and gender differences in some of the determinants such as parental and peer influence, prospects of travelling abroad to practice, and financial benefits. Conclusion: The study resolved that there was a need to educate these students to have the right motivation towards aspiring to study in the medical sciences.