Factors Influencing the Choice of Medical Specialty among Peruvian General Practitioners

Aims: It is important to know the factors that influence physicians when choosing a medical specialty so that authorities can improve the admission and selection processes for medical residency positions accordingly. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the choice of medical specialty among general practitioners of Peru. Instruments Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire and included 576 general practitioners who were preparing for the medical residency exam in Peru. To establish the association of demographic variables and other factors with the choice of medical specialty, we used Pearson’s chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Findings: Most participants were women (56.8%) under 30 years (79.2%). The specialties in high demand were pediatrics (11.1%), general surgery (7.3%), and gynecology and obstetrics (5.4%). Most physicians believed that their university education did not prepare them enough for the residency exam (59.8%). Moreover, 64% of the participants chose their specialty based on vocation and mainly intended to work in hospitals where they could better perform their clinical and surgery rotations (40.5%). Most participants did not consider the economic factor as decisive for choosing their medical specialty (76.3%). Male physicians (p˂0.0001) and those who consider the economic factor (p=0.008) important for choosing their medical specialty were more likely to choose a surgical specialty. Conclusions: Physicians already have a fixed choice and do not choose specialties where there is less competition. Economic factors are not decisive in choosing a specialty. Additionally, we observed few applicants for primary care specialties.