Psychiatry as a career choice: determinants of attraction towards psychiatry among final year medical students in a Nigerian university

Authors

  • Bakare AT Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
  • Yakubu AI Department of Psychiatry Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
  • Abubakar A Department of Psychiatry Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
  • Attahiru A Department of Psychiatry Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
  • Abdulsalam HS Department of Psychiatry Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
  • Ahmad M Department of Psychiatry Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
  • Eneojo IS Department of Psychiatry Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
  • Bello A Department of Psychiatry Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
  • Lawal HA Department of Psychiatry Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria
  • Yunusa MA Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61386/imj.v7i2.431

Keywords:

Psychiatry, career choice, medical students, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Despite an increase in the overall number of medical students, the shortage of psychiatry trainees in Nigeria and worldwide reflects diminishing interest in psychiatry among medical students. The study examined the degree and factors influencing attraction towards psychiatry as a career choice.

Method: A cross-sectional study of 71 final-year medical students who enrolled at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto State (UDUS), Northwest Nigeria between 2006/07 and 2013/14 academic session were interviewed in 2021 while in 600 level. The questionnaires were adapted from similar studies.

Results: The ATP-30 revealed a high prevalence of negative attitudes towards psychiatry, the degree of preference for psychiatry as a career option was classified as low and high. Almost half (47.9%) of the participants had a low degree of preference for psychiatry as a career choice. Most (92.9%) of the participants rated job satisfaction (p<0.001) and intellectually challenging (86.7%) (p<0.001) poorly, as negative influences for not being attracted towards psychiatry as a career choice. A low proportion (8.5%) of the participants selected psychiatry as their most preferred area of specialization. Generally, the majority (85.7%) viewed psychiatry as not attractive. Among the participants, the majority perceived psychiatry as unattractive. Students' misconceptions about job satisfaction and the negative view of not being intellectually challenging were the associated factors for the negative views towards psychiatry.

Conclusion: There is a need for strategy and policy to promote interest in psychiatry early in medical school and residency programs as recommended by the World Psychiatric Association.

Published

01-05-2024

Issue

Section

Articles