Choosing surgery as a specialty: opinions of medical students about surgery and surgeons.

INTRODUCTION Since the number of applicants to residencies in general surgery in Argentina seems to be decreasing, we designed this work with the objective of studying the factors considered undesirable by students when choosing surgery as a specialty. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between March and April 2012, one-hundred students were surveyed with a structured questionnaire with true/false binary answers in an observational case-control design. The survey contained 26 statements that made reference to characteristics of surgery as a specialty, or about the personality and lifestyle of surgeons, as they could be perceived by students. As a control group the same survey was applied to 20 surgeons who were in contact with the students and that could represent a role model for them during their rotation in surgery. RESULTS Comparison between students and surgeons showed no difference in most answers, except in «surgery has poor reimbursement» (OR: 8,9; P=.0001), «there is not enough job demand» (OR: 8,1; P=.015), «surgery restrains intellectual development» (OR: 17,5; P=.014), «surgeons have too many non-scheduled activities» (OR: 9,36; P=.024), «they have a limited patient-physician relationship» (OR: 3,61; P=.009), «they have little time for family» (OR: 4,27; P=.036) and «they are exposed to infectious diseases» (OR: 5,90; P=.007). CONCLUSIONS Women would be as interested as men in working as surgeons; a remarkable fact when considering that the surgical specialties have been predominantly filled by men. The fact that surgeons mostly coincide with the views of students means that role models should be reviewed to promote vocations.