A Competence-Based Study of Academic and Specialty Career Selection in Medical Students: Elective Experience

Getting acquainted to specialty fields for medical students is a solution to reduce students’ indifference towards higher education. This study has been conducted to assess competency-based career selection in medical students. This is a mixed method study. In the quantitative section, 110 medical students who attended classes in 4 specialty groups entered the study voluntarily. After the courses had been held, participants completed a survey about satisfaction with the mentioned classes. In the qualitative section, Delphi was applied. After transcribing the students’ brain storming and experts’ opinions, content analysis was done to gather data. Results demonstrated 65% of students in cardiology, 75% in surgery, 70% in neurology and 61% in internal medicine groups considered courses useful to deepen students’ attitudes towards specialty. In the qualitative section, strengths and weaknesses affecting higher education were extracted. Due to the results, early clinical exposure to special wards helps students to be socialized with professions. This innovative approach contributes to more real learning among medical students as future physicians.