Social Factors Influencing Career Choice in a Medical School in the United Arab Emirates

Objective: The goal of this research was to identify familial and non-familial social factors influencing post-secondary students’ choices of career in medicine. Method: The comparative study was conducted in Ajman, among medical students in the beginning three years, and non-medical students at the same educational level. After obtaining verbal consent, the participants completed a pilot tested, self-administered questionnaire which included socio-demographic variables and social factors related to career choices. Result: Among the 135 medical students, two thirds were females and 87.3% were below 23 years of age. Most fathers were South Asians (53%); 80% had professional training; 48% were business persons and 12% worked in the medical field. Among mothers, 61.4% were professionally trained, and 67.2% was engaged in unskilled, semi-skilled or skilled labor. The non-medical students had mostly Middle Eastern fathers (83.5%), were professionally educated (56.3%) and had careers in business (52.9%); mothers of non-medical students were primarily working in unskilled, skilled or semi-skilled occupations (61.4%) and 38% had attained a professional level of education. The majority of medical students perceived their parents to have had strong influence on their career choice of medicine. Among non-familial social factors, ‘friends’ had a significantly weak influence on their career choice. While more medical students chose their career along with parents, most of the non-medical group made the choice on their own. Conclusion: Parents had significant influence on post-secondary career choice in medicine and friends had a weak influence. Career guidance programs should consider including parents at the process of career selection at the secondary level.