Day 1 : Oral Presentations (Theme: Learning Environment)
The postgraduate career choices of students of Dow Medical College, Karachi
Location
Lecture Hall 3
Start Date
26-1-2013 4:45 PM
Abstract
Background: Pakistan is witnessing a massive wave of migration of doctors to greener pastures. This has serious implications for our public health services. We conducted this survey to find out the intentions of undergraduate students of Dow Medical College (DMC) about their post graduate career choices.
Methods: A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data about students’ demographic characteristics, their intention to stay in Pakistan or go abroad for post graduation; the subject they would choose for specialization; the country they would choose to go to, and whether they would return after specialization. Questionnaires were administered to students of third year, fourth year and final years MBBS. Confidentiality was maintained by keeping the questionnaire anonymous. Data was analyzed by SPSS software 17.
Results: Of the total 237 students who returned the completely filled questionnaires, 183 (77%) wished to go abroad. Eighty eight students (37%) wanted to go to USA, 45 (19%) to United Kingdom, 17 (7%) to Canada and 17 (7%) to Saudi Arabia. The main reason for going abroad was better post graduation facilities (71%). Fifty six percent students said they would like to come back some years after post graduation. Thirty one percent students chose Internal Medicine for specialization; only 11% females and 22% males chose Obstetrics and Gynecology and General Surgery respectively. None of the students, who would stay in Pakistan, chose general practice in urban or rural area.
Conclusions: Majority of students of DMC intend to go abroad for post graduate training, mostly for the sake of better postgraduate degrees. We need to look very carefully at our post graduation training programs as well as working conditions for doctors if we want to reduce this brain drain.
Key words: postgraduate, career choices, medical students
The postgraduate career choices of students of Dow Medical College, Karachi
Lecture Hall 3
Background: Pakistan is witnessing a massive wave of migration of doctors to greener pastures. This has serious implications for our public health services. We conducted this survey to find out the intentions of undergraduate students of Dow Medical College (DMC) about their post graduate career choices.
Methods: A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data about students’ demographic characteristics, their intention to stay in Pakistan or go abroad for post graduation; the subject they would choose for specialization; the country they would choose to go to, and whether they would return after specialization. Questionnaires were administered to students of third year, fourth year and final years MBBS. Confidentiality was maintained by keeping the questionnaire anonymous. Data was analyzed by SPSS software 17.
Results: Of the total 237 students who returned the completely filled questionnaires, 183 (77%) wished to go abroad. Eighty eight students (37%) wanted to go to USA, 45 (19%) to United Kingdom, 17 (7%) to Canada and 17 (7%) to Saudi Arabia. The main reason for going abroad was better post graduation facilities (71%). Fifty six percent students said they would like to come back some years after post graduation. Thirty one percent students chose Internal Medicine for specialization; only 11% females and 22% males chose Obstetrics and Gynecology and General Surgery respectively. None of the students, who would stay in Pakistan, chose general practice in urban or rural area.
Conclusions: Majority of students of DMC intend to go abroad for post graduate training, mostly for the sake of better postgraduate degrees. We need to look very carefully at our post graduation training programs as well as working conditions for doctors if we want to reduce this brain drain.
Key words: postgraduate, career choices, medical students