Factors associated with medical students' choice of psychiatry as future specialty: a cross-sectional study

Background: Despite the fact that mental illnesses are highly prevalent, shortage of trained human resource, particularly psychiatrists, in the field is disproportionately low. This is especially challenging in developing countries. We report factors affecting medical students' choice of psychiatry specialty as a future career. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design incorporating demographics, psychiatry specialty choice and a list of factors related to psychiatry was administered to fourth year medical students. Chi-squared test was used to identify factors associated with psychiatry choice. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to identify the association between demographics and history of mental illness against psychiatry choice. Results: One hundred and sixty-five medical students participated in the study. The majority, 139 (84.2%), of the students were male. From the medical students, 34 (21%) reported that they will choose to specialize in psychiatry for their future career. A chi-squared test result indicated that there were many factors associated with psychiatry choice. Family history of mental illness was found to be significantly associated with the future career choice of the psychiatry discipline (AOR=2.76; CI: 1.05-7.25). Conclusion: Family history of mental illness seemed to be a significant factor in medical students' psychiatry choice. Positive attitude to psychiatry, the manner in which psychiatry is taught, satisfaction related to practical and theoretical psychiatry education, having direct involvement in psychiatric patient care and the like were factors that affect psychiatry choice. Therefore, paying due attention to modifiable factors negatively affecting psychiatry choice may increase the selection of the field by medical students as a specialty.