Description of Medical Career Choices during the COVID-19 Pandemic for Students of the Medical Profession Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Tanjungpura University
Highlights:
-
The most sought-after medical career choices and institutions were specialist doctors and hospitals.
- The most sought-after medical career choices were obstetrics and gynecology specialists.
Abstract
Introduction: Government policies during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have limited the clinical rotation learning system of the Medical Faculty at Tanjungpura University. This study examined the description of medical career choices during the COVID-19 pandemic for students of the Medical Profession Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Tanjungpura University.
Methods: This was a descriptive study using a quantitative method in the form of a questionnaire. A total of 138 students were selected through the purposive sampling technique (n=138). The variables were then measured using a medical career choice questionnaire. The obtained data were further processed using the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 23.0 and Microsoft Excel 2013.
Results: Study results showed that from 138 samples (n=138), students chose careers as general practitioners (male=17.5%; female=16%), specialist doctors (male=70%; female=73%), lecturers (female=2%), structural doctors (male=5%; female=6%), and non-medical careers (male=7.5%; female=2%). Regarding their preferred workplace, students chose the government hospital (male=40%; female=47%), private hospital (male=37%; female=32%), public health center (male=7%; female=9%), private clinic (male=5%; female=4%), state-owned clinic (male=3%, female=1%), military (male=5%, female=2%), ministry (male=3%; female=1%), educational institution (female=3%), and police (female=1%).
Conclusion: The most sought-after medical career choices and institutions were obstetrics and gynecology specialists and hospitals. Factors that influenced the selection of a medical career were personal and professional characteristics, employment conditions, personal life, preclinical and clinical rotation phase, demands of postgraduate education, and family roles. Conducting further research to determine the factors that influence the choice of a medical career by using mixed-method research or qualitative interviewing is recommended.
Syakurah RA, Sari DA, Riansyah D, Yolanda P. Determinan Pilihan Karir Mahasiswa Fakultas Kedokteran sebagai Spesialis di Indonesia. J Pendidik Kedokt Indones Indones J Med Educ 2014; 3: 132–136. [Journal]
Gustiani S. Students’ Motivation in Online Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Case Study. Holistics (Hospitality Linguist J Ilm Bhs Ingg 2020; 12: 23-40. [Journal]
Hassan M, Shahzad F, Waqar SH. Seeking Motivation for Selecting Medical Profession as a Career Choice. Pakistan J Med Sci 2020; 36: 941–945. [PubMed]
Győrffy Z, Birkás E, Sándor I. Career Motivation and Burnout among Medical Students in Hungary - Could Altruism be a Protection Factor? BMC Med Educ 2016; 16: 182. [Journal]
Pesulima TL, Hetharie Y. Perlindungan Hukum terhadap Keselamatan Kerja Bagi Tenaga Kesehatan Akibat Pandemi COVID-19. SASI 2020; 26: 280–285. [Journal]
Kelly EL, Casola AR, Smith K, Kelly S, de la Cruz MSD. A Qualitative Analysis of Third-Year Medical Students’ Reflection Essays Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Their Education. BMC Med Educ 2021; 21: 481. [PubMed]
Deng J, Que J, Wu S, Zhang Y, Liu J, Chen S, et al. Effects of COVID-19 on Career and Specialty Choices among Chinese Medical Students. Med Educ Online 2021; 26: 1913785. [PubMed]
Rosyila, Syakurah R. Medical Student Career Choice’s Determinants in Asia: A Systematic Review. Int J Public Heal Sci 2020; 9: 57–61. [Journal]
Andarwati P, Nuraini S, Nugroho A. Motivasi dan Pilihan Karir Mahasiswa Tingkat Akhir Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya. Bul Penelit Sist Kesehat; 19. 27 January 2017. [ResearchGate]
Nie NH, Bent DH, Hull CH. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), (2015). [Website]
Gates B, Allen P. Excel, (2013). [Website]
Rustam IY, Saputra M, Handayani Y, et al. Analisis Determinan Pilihan Karir Dokter Internsip di Provinsi DKI Jakarta. J Indones Med Assoc 2020; 70: 246–252. [Journal]
Aisha N, Ameen N, Jassim G. Career Choices among Medical Students and Factors Influencing Their Choices. Glob J Health Sci 2019; 11: 132. [Journal]
Mardhiyah I, Saputra O, Larasati T, Lisiswanti R. Studi Kualitatif Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Pemilihan Karier pada Mahasiswa Kedokteran dan Dokter Internship di Bandar Lampung. J Kedokt Univ Lampung (JK Unila) 2016; 1: 272–282. [Journal]
Nurhayati E, Respati T, Piliang B. Pilihan Karir Lulusan Program Pendidikan Profesi Dokter Universitas Islam Bandung Tahun 2015. Glob Med Heal Commun 2016; 4: 87–92. [Journal]
Okunlola AI, Babalola OF, Okunlola CK, et al. Determining Factors for the Choice of Medical Career among the Final Year Medical Students of a Private University in Nigeria. Niger J Med; 29, (2020). [Journal]
Heiligers PJM. Gender Differences in Medical Students’ Motives and Career Choice. BMC Med Educ 2012; 12: 82. [PubMed]
Yang G, Wang L, Wang J, Geng Z, Liu H, Xu T. Career Choice Regret during COVID-19 among Healthcare Students and Professionals in Mainland China: A Cross-Sectional Study. BMC Med Educ 2021; 21: 534. [Journal]
Hill EJR, Giles JA. Career Decisions and Gender: The Illusion of Choice? Perspect Med Educ 2014; 3: 151–154. [PubMed]
Wang XL, Liu MX, Peng S, Yang L, Lu C, Shou SC, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Career Intention amongst Undergraduate Medical Students: A Single-Centre Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Hubei Province. BMC Med Educ 2022; 22: 154. [PubMed]
Zhang R, Pei J, Wang Y, Wang L, Yeerjiang Y, Gao H, et al. COVID-19 Outbreak Improves Attractiveness of Medical Careers in Chinese Senior High School Students. BMC Med Educ 2022; 22: 241. [Journal]
Saleh R, Martins RS, Saad M, Fatimi AS, Kumar G, Abbas M, et al. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Career Choice of Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study amongst Pre-Medical Students in Pakistan. Ann Med Surg 2022; 81: 104219. [PubMed]
Cai CZ, Lin Y, Alias H, Hu Z, Wong LP. Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Student Career Perceptions: Perspectives from Medical Students in China. Int J Environ Res Public Health; 18. May 2021. [PubMed]
Levaillant M, Levaillant L, Lerolle N, Vallet B, Hamel-Broza JFpi. Factors Influencing Medical Students’ Choice of Specialization: A Gender Based Systematic Review. EClinicalMedicine 2020; 28: 100589. [PubMed]
Ku M. When Does Gender Matter? Work Occup 2011; 38: 221–262. [Journal]
McLean M, Al Ahbabi S, Al Ameri M, Al Mansoori M, Al Yahyaei F, Bernsen R. Muslim Women and Medical Students in the Clinical Encounter. Med Educ 2010; 44: 306–315. [PubMed]
Ramakrishnan A, Sambuco D, Jagsi R. Women’s Participation in the Medical Profession: Insights from Experiences in Japan, Scandinavia, Russia, and Eastern Europe. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2014; 23: 927–934. [PubMed]
Aristi N, Janitra P, Prihandini P. Fokus Narasi Kekerasan Seksual pada Portal Berita Daring Selama Pandemi COVID-19. J Kaji Komun 2021; 9: 121. [Journal]
Zia S, Abbas M, Sulaiman M, Sheikh SM. Career Choices of Medical Doctors at Graduate Level - A Multicenter Study. Pakistan J Med Sci 2017; 33: 1086–1090. [Journal]
Assefa T, Mariam DH, Mekonnen W, Derbew M. Medical Students’ Career Choices, Preference for Placement, and Attitudes towards the Role of Medical Instruction in Ethiopia. BMC Med Educ 2017; 17: 96. [PubMed]
Hayes BW, Shakya R. Career Choices and What Influences Nepali Medical Students and Young Doctors: A Cross-Sectional Study. Hum Resour Health 2013; 11: 5. [Journal]
Aslam F, Jawad U, Hotiana U, Mahboob U. Medical Students’ Perspective about Attributes of Role Models - The Other Side of Story. J Evol Med Dent Sci 2021; 10: 1692–1697. [ResearchGate]
Burgess A, Goulston K, Oates K. Role Modelling of Clinical Tutors: A Focus Group Study among Medical Students. BMC Med Educ 2015; 15: 17. [Journal]
Riedel M, Amann N, Recker F, Hennigs A, Heublein S, Meyer B, et al. The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Medical Teaching in Obstetrics and Gynecology-A Nationwide Expert Survey among Teaching Coordinators at German University Hospitals. PLoS One 2022; 17: e0269562. [Journal]
Maulidira F, Syakurah R, Fadilah M, Aulia H. Pengaruh Role Model terhadap Pilihan Karir pada Mahasiswa Fakultas Kedokteran. J Pendidik Kedokt Indones 2015; 4: 75–82. [Journal]
Rukmini E, Bogar KJ. Exploratory Study on Medical Graduates with Nonclinicians Career. J Pendidik Kedokt Indones Indones J Med Educ 2021; 10: 86–98. [Journal]
Copyright (c) 2025 Zahlah Ninanda, Iit Fitrianingrum, Sari Eka Pratiwi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
1. The journal allows the author to hold the copyright of the article without restrictions.
2. The journal allows the author(s) to retain publishing rights without restrictions
3. The formal legal aspect of journal publication accessibility refers to Creative Commons Atribution-Share Alike 4.0 (CC BY-SA).
