| Peer-Reviewed

Future Postgraduate Choices of First and Final Year Clinical Students in Ghana

Received: 19 December 2017    Accepted: 11 February 2018    Published: 6 March 2018
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Since the establishment of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2003, revived interest in postgraduate medical education has led to an increase in specialists in medicine, surgery and related disciplines. While this ongoing process is laudable, the number and variety of specialists are not yet commiserate with the health needs of the population. Semi-structured questionnaires (340) were administered to consenting first and final year clinical students of the School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana during the final semester of the 2014 academic session. The questionnaire was based on anecdotes and focused group discussions on the issue of career choices and consisted of sections inquiring about the demographics, general career intentions and postgraduate aspirations of the respondents. Three hundred and fifteen (92%) out of 340 responders completed the questionnaires adequately; with 197 and 118 first and final year students respectively in M: F ratio of 1.23:1. All our responders were aged 20-25 years. Majority desired postgraduate specialization (86.7%); and Surgery (43.5%) and Obstetrics & Gynaecology (5.38%) were the most and least favoured specialties respectively. About 74% of our responders were influenced by personal interests (p=.01) irrespective of gender or year of study. Surgery is the most preferred postgraduate specialization in our study and most of the students were influenced by personal interest.

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 4, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12
Page(s) 7-11
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Clinical Students, Postgraduate, Training, Subspecialties

References
[1] World health organization - Health workforce: Achieving the health-related MDGs. [Data base on the internet].
[2] Michael J. Peluso, Janet P. Hafler Medical Students as Medical Educators: Opportunities for Skill Development in the Absence of Formal Training Programs Yale J Biol Med. 2011 Sep; 84 (3): 203–209.
[3] Jeffe DB, Whelan AJ, Andriole DA Primary care specialty choices of United States medical graduates, 1997-2006. Acad Med. 2010 Jun; 85 (6):947-58.
[4] Lefevre JH, Roupret M, Kerneis S, Karila L. Career choices of medical students: a national survey of 1780 students. Med Educ. 2010 Jun; 44 (6):603-12.
[5] Yusur Al-Nuaimi, Ardeshir Bayat, Gus McGrouther. Modernizing medical careers and factors influencing career choices of medical students British Journal of Hospital Medicine, March 2008, Vol 69, No 3:163-166.
[6] Leduc N, Vanasse A, Scott I, Scott S, Orzanco MG, Maman Dogma J, Abou, Malham A. The Career Decision-Making Process of Medical Students and Residents and the Choice of Specialty and Practice Location: How Does Postgraduate Medical Education Fit In? Members of the FMEC PG consortium; 2011.
[7] Smitha Bhat, Landric D’souza, Jeffrey Fernandez Factors Influencing the Career Choices of Medical Graduates Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2012 February, Vol-6 (1): 61-64.
[8] LingBing She, BingLi Wu, LiYan Xu, JianYi Wu, PiXian Zhang, EnMin Li. Determinants of career aspirations of medical students in southern China. BMC Medical Education 2008, 8:59.
[9] Azu OO, Naidu E, Naidu J. Choice of speciality amongst first-year medical students in the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 2013; 5 (1), 513-519.
[10] Nicola Bailey, Kate L Mandeville, Tim Rhodes, Mwapatsa Mipando. Postgraduate career intentions of medical students and recent graduates in Malawi: a qualitative interview study. BMC Medical Education 2012; 12:87.
[11] Shumba A, Naong M. Factors Influencing Students’ Career Choice and Aspirations in South Africa. J Soc Sci, 2012; 33 (2):169-178.
[12] Goodyear H, Kennedy C, Wall D. Career choices: foundation year trainees’ views on careers advice and information. Br J Hosp Med 2007; 68 (4): 211–15.
[13] Goldacre MJ, Turner G, Lambert TW. Variation by medical school in career choices of UK graduates of 1999 and 2000. Med Educ 2004; 38: 249–58.
[14] McManus IC, Richards P, Winder BC (1999) Intercalated degrees, learning styles, and career preferences: prospective longitudinal study of UK medical students. BMJ 319: 542–6.
[15] Lambert TW, Davidson JM, Evans J, Goldacre MJ (2003) Doctors’ reasons for rejecting initial choices of specialities as long-term careers. Med Educ 37: 312–18.
[16] British Medical Association (2006) BMA Cohort Study of 2006 medical graduates. First Report. British Medical Association, London.
[17] Jeffe DB, Andriole DA, Hageman HL, Whelan AJ. The changing paradigm of contemporary U.S. allopathic medical school graduates’ career paths: analysis of the 1997-2004 national AAMC Graduation Questionnaire database. Acad Med, Washington: 2007; 82:9.
[18] Buddeberg-Fische B, Klaghofer R, Abel T, Buddeberg C. Swiss residents’ speciality choices – impact of gender, personality traits, career motivation and life goals. BMC Health Serv Res. 2006.
[19] Fukuda Y, Harada T. Gender differences in specialty preference and mismatch with real needs in Japanese medical students. BMC Med Educ. 2010.
[20] Breier M, Wildschut A. Changing gender profile of medical schools in South Africa. S Afr Med J. 2008.
[21] Newton DA, Grayson MS, Thompson LF: The variable influence of lifestyle and income on medical students' career specialty choices: data from two U.S. medical schools, 1998–2004. Acad Med 2005, 80:809-814.
[22] Lam TP, Wan XH, Ip MS: Current perspectives on medical education in China. Med Educ 2006; 40 (10):938-939.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Yifieyeh Abiboye Cheduko, Duduyemi Babatunde Moses, Kumahor Elikem, Kotoku Eyiram, Moses Monday Omoniyi, et al. (2018). Future Postgraduate Choices of First and Final Year Clinical Students in Ghana. Central African Journal of Public Health, 4(1), 7-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Yifieyeh Abiboye Cheduko; Duduyemi Babatunde Moses; Kumahor Elikem; Kotoku Eyiram; Moses Monday Omoniyi, et al. Future Postgraduate Choices of First and Final Year Clinical Students in Ghana. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2018, 4(1), 7-11. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Yifieyeh Abiboye Cheduko, Duduyemi Babatunde Moses, Kumahor Elikem, Kotoku Eyiram, Moses Monday Omoniyi, et al. Future Postgraduate Choices of First and Final Year Clinical Students in Ghana. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2018;4(1):7-11. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12,
      author = {Yifieyeh Abiboye Cheduko and Duduyemi Babatunde Moses and Kumahor Elikem and Kotoku Eyiram and Moses Monday Omoniyi and Fefemwole Prince and Akwetey Francis},
      title = {Future Postgraduate Choices of First and Final Year Clinical Students in Ghana},
      journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {4},
      number = {1},
      pages = {7-11},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20180401.12},
      abstract = {Since the establishment of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2003, revived interest in postgraduate medical education has led to an increase in specialists in medicine, surgery and related disciplines. While this ongoing process is laudable, the number and variety of specialists are not yet commiserate with the health needs of the population. Semi-structured questionnaires (340) were administered to consenting first and final year clinical students of the School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana during the final semester of the 2014 academic session. The questionnaire was based on anecdotes and focused group discussions on the issue of career choices and consisted of sections inquiring about the demographics, general career intentions and postgraduate aspirations of the respondents. Three hundred and fifteen (92%) out of 340 responders completed the questionnaires adequately; with 197 and 118 first and final year students respectively in M: F ratio of 1.23:1. All our responders were aged 20-25 years. Majority desired postgraduate specialization (86.7%); and Surgery (43.5%) and Obstetrics & Gynaecology (5.38%) were the most and least favoured specialties respectively. About 74% of our responders were influenced by personal interests (p=.01) irrespective of gender or year of study. Surgery is the most preferred postgraduate specialization in our study and most of the students were influenced by personal interest.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Future Postgraduate Choices of First and Final Year Clinical Students in Ghana
    AU  - Yifieyeh Abiboye Cheduko
    AU  - Duduyemi Babatunde Moses
    AU  - Kumahor Elikem
    AU  - Kotoku Eyiram
    AU  - Moses Monday Omoniyi
    AU  - Fefemwole Prince
    AU  - Akwetey Francis
    Y1  - 2018/03/06
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12
    T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 7
    EP  - 11
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5781
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20180401.12
    AB  - Since the establishment of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2003, revived interest in postgraduate medical education has led to an increase in specialists in medicine, surgery and related disciplines. While this ongoing process is laudable, the number and variety of specialists are not yet commiserate with the health needs of the population. Semi-structured questionnaires (340) were administered to consenting first and final year clinical students of the School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana during the final semester of the 2014 academic session. The questionnaire was based on anecdotes and focused group discussions on the issue of career choices and consisted of sections inquiring about the demographics, general career intentions and postgraduate aspirations of the respondents. Three hundred and fifteen (92%) out of 340 responders completed the questionnaires adequately; with 197 and 118 first and final year students respectively in M: F ratio of 1.23:1. All our responders were aged 20-25 years. Majority desired postgraduate specialization (86.7%); and Surgery (43.5%) and Obstetrics & Gynaecology (5.38%) were the most and least favoured specialties respectively. About 74% of our responders were influenced by personal interests (p=.01) irrespective of gender or year of study. Surgery is the most preferred postgraduate specialization in our study and most of the students were influenced by personal interest.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Pathology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Sports & Exercise Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Pathology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Sections