Students' Interest in Orthopedic Surgery in Saudi Arabia

Wazzan Aljuhani; Arwa Albaiahy; Butoul Alanizy; Aljawhara Alabdulkarim; Abdullah Alanazi

doi:10.1177/23821205231217841

Students' Interest in Orthopedic Surgery in Saudi Arabia

J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2023 Dec 19:10:23821205231217841. doi: 10.1177/23821205231217841. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Wazzan Aljuhani¹, Arwa Albaiahy^{2

3}, Butoul Alanizy^{2

3}, Aljawhara Alabdulkarim^{2

3}, Abdullah Alanazi^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
² King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University For Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Objectives: The demand for orthopedic surgery is expected to increase as the Saudi population grows and ages. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the interest of medical students and interns in orthopedic surgery and the factors that influence their interest.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire adapted from a similar study and modified by the authors. The questionnaire was distributed via email to more than 500 medical students from the second year to the internship year. The questionnaire was designed to assess knowledge, interest, and students' perception of orthopedics.

Results: Five hundred and ten responses were obtained; 382 (74.90%) were from women. Gender, family orientation, private practice, and perceptions of orthopedic surgery as a stressful specialty or a specialty in crisis were variables that did not influence participants' perceptions of orthopedic surgery. Further, 13% of participants showed early interest in orthopedic surgery, especially during their third year of medical school. Most of the interested participants recognized that having strong level of knowledge, future academic opportunities, a controllable lifestyle, direct patient care, experience during their clerkship, a high salary, immediate satisfaction, and a prestigious specialty were important aspects that determined their interest in considering a future career in orthopedic surgery. Work preferences that had a significant impact on interest included working with patients not requiring long-term care, working only in the hospital, working outside the hospital, and working only during the day.

Conclusion: There was no difference between genders in terms of interest in orthopedic surgery. This study might serve as a basis for future research assessing the interest of medical students in orthopedic surgery as well as identifying and managing the barriers that prevent students from pursuing careers as orthopedic surgeons.

Keywords: Saudi Arabia; interest; interns; medical students; orthopedic surgery.