Subject preference for future specialization among interns of a medical college in south India and their perspective towards Community Medicine as a career option

Abstract

Background: India is currently in need of large number of public health specialists to combat the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. But it is seen that medical students are less interested in a career as a Public Health Specialist. The aim of the study is to analyse the preference of subject for future specialization among medical interns and to assess their perspective towards Community Medicine as a future career option. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 medical interns of Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, during January 2022. The sample size was arrived at by assuming the prevalence of interns opting for specialization after internship, p as 80% with allowable error, l of 10%, using the formula 4pq/l2. The study subjects were selected by simple random sampling. Data was collected using a pretested, prevalidated, semi structured questionnaire, after obtaining Institutional Ethical Committee clearance (IEC 197|2021-2022|2/2022), and informed consent of the study subjects. It was analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics, using SPSS (version 25.0).Results: Out of 100 interns, 45% were males and 55% were females. Their mean age in years (standard deviation) was 23.35(±0.73). General Medicine was the most preferred subject (27%) for specialization followed by General surgery (17%). Perception of lack of personal satisfaction, lack of future career prospects were the reasons for not choosing Community Medicine as a career. Conclusions: Preference of Community Medicine is very limited among medical interns. Effective curriculum implementation to generate interest in this Specialization is the need of the hour.