[01] Chai Wan Yik, Department of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Melaka, Malaysia. [02] Chitra Balakrishnan, Department of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Melaka, Malaysia. [03] Devaki Meenachi Sundaram, Department of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Melaka, Malaysia. [04] Eric Tan Yi Li, Department of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Melaka, Malaysia. [05] Tan Wu Pin, Department of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Melaka, Malaysia. [06] Htoo Htoo Kyaw Soe, Department of Community Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Melaka, Malaysia.

Medical specialization refers to further medical education pursued by doctors in a specific specialty by completing several years of residency and the choice of medical specialty is influenced by various factors. The aim of this study is to develop a better understanding on determinants influencing this choice among medical students. An analytical cross-sectional study on factors affecting choices of medical specialization among private medical schools in Malaysia was conducted from October till November 2016. Using prevalence of 47%, confidence level of 95% and margin of error of 6.5%, minimum sample size of 226 was acquired, with actual participation of 260 students. A validated set of questionnaire was distributed and data was analysed using Epi-Info7. The medical specialities were categorised into three groups, namely, primary care (internal medicine, paediatrics), surgery (general surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology) and controllable lifestyle specialities (anaesthesiology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, ophthalmology and radiology). Out of 230 students who participated, 98 (42.6%) chose primary care, 82 (35.7%) chose surgery and 50 (21.7%) chose lifestyle speciality. Students who prefer intellectual challenges and adequate opportunity to interact with patients are more likely to choose primary care (p value< 0.05). Status and reputation is a major factor to choose surgery specialty (p value<0.05). Less stressful working life and favorable working hours influence students to choose lifestyle specialty (p value< 0.05). Understanding of factors influencing medical students' choices in medical specialization could be used to modify methods of selection, medical school curricula and practice opportunities to better match population needs and student desires.

Future Specialisation, Primary Care, Surgery, Controllable Lifestyle Specialties, Private Medical Students, Malaysia

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