Motivation for Choosing Neurology as a Career, among Students of Baghdad Medical College

Abstract

Purpose: To test the influence of specific factors on motivation for neurology career and especially the effect
of taking neurology course, and the effect of gender on them.
Materials and Method: This is an observational cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire-based
study. Structured online surveys were offered to a random sample of 170 final year students of College of
Medicine\University of Baghdad from July to September 2018. Assessment included factors that might
influence students’ choice of neurology as a future career, gender effect on those factors, and especially
evaluating the impact of exposure to neurology course on their determination for choosing neurology.
Results: A total of 150 students responded to this survey (88% responder rate). About 35.3% of the
participants anticipated that they would chose neurology as their future career. The strongest motivational
factors were: passion in neurology (50%), role model (38%), and prestige (36%). Family and friend’s effect
and having an illness in the family were less motivating factors. Taking the neurosciences module did
motivate the students to choose neurology as their future career (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Neurology is generally well-regarded by students in our college. There was a statistically
significant association between choosing neurology as a future career and the influence of studying
neuroscience module. Other significant associations were: will to help neurologically ill patients, having
passion in neurology, role model, prestige and family pressure.