The Factors Affecting Specialty Preference and Job Satisfaction of Medical Residents

Objective: The choice of a residency program is one milestone in the professional life of a medical doctor. Residents may be affected by many factors while choosing a specialty, and if some of these factors come true during the residency period, job satisfaction (JS) can be high. We aimed to improve our understanding of the factors affecting the selection of specialties by medical doctors, JS of residents, and factors affecting the JS. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in a university hospital with 932 beds and 240 residents. Data were collected by a questionnaire consisting of 39 questions to achieve information about demographic characteristics and the factors affecting the preferences of the residents. Participants were also asked to answer the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire to obtain their JS scores. Results: JS of the residents was high in 69.7% (n=108) of participants. Residents who have chosen their current specialty from within the first three options according to their rank in specialty exam had higher JS (p=0.023). The top factors affecting the residents' preference were an inclination towards the specialty and compliance with personal characteristics. The most crucial factor for choosing a surgical specialty was "an inclination towards the specialty" while "compliance with personal characteristics" was the most crucial factor for choosing non-surgical specialties. The factors that affect Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (IDCM) residents' preference were the quality of the education, the inclination for the specialty, compliance with personal characteristics and career opportunities. JS of IDCM residents was very high (% 100). For all residents, the inclination for the specialty was more critical than expected economic income (p<0.001). Conclusion: Inclination towards the specialty is the primary determinant for the preference of specialty among medical doctors. The educational quality of the residency program and career opportunities are also important.