From Classroom to Operating Room: What Attracts Medical Students to Ophthalmology

From Classroom to Operating Room: What Attracts Medical Students to Ophthalmology | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article From Classroom to Operating Room: What Attracts Medical Students to Ophthalmology Abdulmajeed Al Khathami, MBBS, Nada Alharthi, Raghad Mutir Alzahrani, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5854209/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background The choice of specialty is a pivotal decision for medical students, shaping their professional identities and career trajectories. Ophthalmology, a field combining surgical precision with the preservation of vision, often receives limited exposure in medical curricula. This study aims to explore factors influencing medical students' interest in ophthalmology at Al-Baha University College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia, amid increasing demand for ophthalmologists due to Vision 2030 healthcare reforms. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 299 medical students from the second to the internship year during the 2024–2025 academic year. Stratified random sampling ensured representative distribution. Data were collected using a validated, web-based, self-administered questionnaire addressing demographics, specialty preferences, motivations, and exposure to ophthalmology. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze data, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results Interest in ophthalmology was expressed by 57.2% of students. Younger students (< 21 years, 66.2%) and early decision-makers (before medical school, 70.9%) showed higher preference rates (p < 0.05). Influential factors included personal interest (66.7%), perceived income potential (59.1%), and procedural opportunities (57.9%), while barriers included limited exposure (33.3% had no exposure) and perceived difficulty of residency (36.8%). Logistic regression identified academic level and timing of career decision-making as significant predictors. Gender, marital status, and GPA were not significant. Conclusion Enhanced integration of ophthalmology into medical curricula and targeted interventions to address misconceptions are essential. Increasing awareness of medical students about the huge demand for ophthalmologists in medical practice and facilitating postgraduate study acceptance will significantly influence their decision to choose ophthalmology as a future career. These strategies can promote informed decision-making and align medical education with Saudi Arabia’s growing need for specialized ophthalmologists. Exposure to Ophthalmology Specialty Choice Career Decision-making Cross-sectional Study Saudi Arabia Figures Figure 1 Introduction As medical students progress through their education, they face a pivotal moment that rivals the significance of their initial decision to study medicine: choosing their specialty [1]. This choice shapes not just their professional identity but fundamentally determines the rhythm of their future lives [2]. Within the diverse landscape of medical specialties, ophthalmology stands as a distinct field that combines microsurgical precision with the profound responsibility of preserving and restoring one of humanity's most precious senses – vision [3]. The journey toward specialization in Saudi Arabian medical schools presents unique challenges and opportunities. Medical students navigate through a complex web of influences, ranging from cultural expectations and family considerations to professional aspirations and personal interests [4,5]. However, the path to ophthalmology often remains less traveled, not necessarily due to a lack of interest but potentially because of limited exposure during formative medical education years. The landscape of ophthalmology in Saudi Arabia is particularly intriguing. As the kingdom continues its rapid healthcare transformation under Vision 2030, the demand for eye care specialists has grown significantly [6]. This growth coincides with rising rates of diabetes-related eye complications and an aging population, creating a compelling need for well-trained ophthalmologists [7]. Yet, the factors that draw medical students toward or away from this specialty remain largely unexplored in the Saudi context. Current medical education curricula often allocate minimal time to ophthalmology compared to broader specialties like internal medicine or surgery. This limited exposure creates a paradox: how can students make informed decisions about pursuing ophthalmology when their understanding of the field may be incomplete? The challenge is compounded by the unique aspects of ophthalmic practice, which combines outpatient care, intricate surgical procedures, and the opportunity to witness immediate improvements in patient's quality of life years [8,9]. The decision to pursue ophthalmology extends beyond mere career choice – it reflects a commitment to mastering a highly specialized field that demands exceptional precision, continuous technological adaptation, and a deep understanding of both systemic diseases and their ocular manifestations [10]. However, misconceptions about the specialty may influence students' decisions before they have the chance to fully explore its scope and potential. Despite existing studies in Saudi Arabia on factors influencing medical students' specialty choices, there is a notable lack of research focused specifically on ophthalmology. Therefore, We aim to identify the characteristics of ophthalmology that appeal to medical students and have an impact on their decision-making process by conducting a cross-sectional descriptive study among medical students. The insights gained from this investigation will not only enhance our understanding of what draws students to ophthalmology but will also help shape how we introduce and teach this specialty to future generations of medical professionals in Saudi Arabia. Material and methods Study design, setting, and population An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students at Al-Baha University College of Medicine, a leading institution in the southern region of Saudi Arabia, during the 2024–2025 academic year. The study involved students from the second year through the internship year to assess their perspectives on ophthalmology as a career choice. Sampling procedures The required sample size for this study was calculated to be 346 students, determined using the cross-sectional study design formula for a finite population, as Al-Baha Faculty of Medicine had approximately one thousand enrolled students. The formula used was: n = [1 + {([Z²P (1 − P)]/d² − 1)/Pop}]. Without prior data regarding the proportion of students interested in ophthalmology as a future career and targeting an error margin no greater than 5% at a 95% confidence interval, we set p = 50%, which yielded an initial sample size of 275 using the equation. To account for potential non-response rates commonly associated with web-based surveys, we increased the sample size by 25%, resulting in a final target of 346 undergraduate students. The study employed stratified random sampling, with each academic year representing a distinct stratum. Students were selected from the second year through the internship year, with the sample size distributed equally across these years due to the relatively uniform number of students in each academic cohort, ensuring representative sampling. Data collection and instrumentation Data collection was conducted using a web-based, self-administered questionnaire designed to capture comprehensive information about students' attitudes toward ophthalmology. The questionnaire employed in this study was adapted from previously validated surveys conducted in an analogous research effort that investigated the factors influencing medical students’ choice of ophthalmology as a career [11,12]. The questionnaire was structured into three primary sections. The first section gathered demographic information, including gender, age, current academic year, marital status, academic performance (GPA), and top three specialty preferences. The second section explored various factors influencing career choices, including personal interest in ophthalmology, expected income potential, lifestyle considerations, private practice opportunities, technical aspects of ophthalmic procedures, clinical diagnostic requirements, work routine preferences, patient satisfaction metrics, and disease prognosis considerations. The final section assessed students' exposure to ophthalmology through experience with ophthalmic procedures, participation in relevant conferences, research involvement, and community service activities. The questionnaire was validated through expert review by board-certified ophthalmologists and medical educators. A pilot study was conducted with 20 students to test for clarity and reliability, and minor revisions were made based on the feedback received. Statistical analysis The collected data underwent two levels of analysis. Initially, we conducted descriptive statistics, calculating frequencies, percentages, and standard errors of sample variables to present a comprehensive overview of the dataset. Subsequently, logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant predictors of choosing ophthalmology as a future specialization. We calculated Crude Odds Ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0 (IBM, Armonk, New York), with statistical significance set at p < 0.05 for all two-sided tests. Ethical considerations The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Al-Baha University College of Medicine (IRB/SUR/BU-FM/2024/125) . Informed consent was obtained from all participants before their enrollment in the study. Participants were informed about the study objectives and their right to withdraw at any time. All data were collected anonymously and handled confidentially by research ethics guidelines. Results General characteristics of study participants A total of 299 medical students participated in the study, with 40.1% being female and 59.9% male (Table 1 ). Among participants, 57.2% expressed a desire to choose ophthalmology as a future specialty. Gender did not significantly influence this preference (p = 0.27). Age groups showed a significant difference, with younger students (< 21 years) being more likely to choose ophthalmology (66.2%, p = 0.03). The academic level also played a significant role (p = 0.003), with 3rd-year students showing the highest interest (76.3%), while interest declined among 6th-year students (38.6%). Marital status and GPA did not significantly affect the choice of ophthalmology. The timing of specialty preference decision-making was significant (p = 0.003), with students deciding before medical school (70.9%) being more likely to prefer ophthalmology compared to those deciding during clinical years (45.4%). Table 1 General characteristics of the study participants and the desire to choose Ophthalmology as a future career. Characteristic All participants N (%) Desire to choose Ophthalmology as a future career N (%) p-value Gender Female 120 (40.1%) 64 (53.3%) 0.27 Male 179 (59.9%) 107 (59.8%) Age groups Less than 21 years 68 (22.7%) 45 (66.2%) 0.03 21–22 years 102 (34.1%) 63 (61.8%) 23 years and more 129 (43.1%) 63 (48.8%) Marital status Married 8 (2.7%) 5 (62.5%) 0.75 Single 291 (97.3%) 166 (57.0%) Academic level 2nd year 47 (15.7%) 31 (66.0%) 0.003 3rd year 38 (12.7%) 29 (76.3%) 4th year 65 (21.7%) 42 (64.6%) 5th year 47 (15.7%) 25 (53.2%) 6th year 57 (19.1%) 22 (38.6%) Internship 45 (15.1%) 22 (48.9%) CGPA < 3 90 (30.1%) 53 (58.9%) 0.56 3–3.5 86 (28.8%) 37 (43.02%) 3.5–4 123 (41.1%) 45 (36.6%) When Did You Make Your Specialty Preference? Before medical school 55 (18.4%) 39 (70.9%) 0.003 During basic science 50 (16.7%) 33 (66.0%) During clinical years 130 (43.5%) 59 (45.4%) Others 64 (21.4%) 40 (62.5%) All medical students 299 (100%) 171 (57.2%) Specialty preferences among medical students Figure 1 provides a detailed visualization of the ranking of chosen specialty preferences among medical students for their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices. Internal medicine was the most frequently chosen specialty across all ranks, especially as the first choice, where it was selected by 11.7% of participants. Ophthalmology followed closely as the second most preferred first-choice specialty at 9.7%, and general surgery, including its subspecialties, was ranked third with 8.4%. For the second-choice preferences, internal medicine retained its leading position (16.4%), followed by ophthalmology (10.4%) and dermatology (8.0%), indicating continued interest in these specialties even as secondary options. For the third-choice preferences, a notable shift occurred, with "undecided" emerging as the most common response (14.7%), suggesting uncertainty or openness among students regarding their future career paths. Family medicine and internal medicine were tied as the second most popular third-choice preferences, each accounting for 8.7% of responses. Specialties like ophthalmology (6.7%), orthopedics (6.0%), and pediatrics (6.0%) were also commonly chosen as third preferences, reflecting their appeal as fallback options for many students. Factors influencing career choice in Ophthalmology Table 2 highlights the factors influencing students' decision to pursue ophthalmology. Personal interest was the most influential factor, with 66.7% agreeing and 22.2% strongly agreeing. High income and lifestyle flexibility were also significant motivators, with 59.1% and 49.1% agreeing, respectively. Other important factors included the opportunity to perform procedures (57.9% agreed) and the perception of good patient prognosis (53.2% agreed). Conversely, factors such as the difficulty of obtaining residency (36.8% agreed) and the degree of stress (39.2% agreed) were less influential. Table 2 Factors influencing career choice in Ophthalmology Factor Strongly Agree (N, %) Agree (N, %) Neutral (N, %) Disagree (N, %) Strongly Disagree (N, %) Personal interest 38 (22.2%) 114 (66.7%) 12 (7.0%) 1 (0.6%) 6 (3.5%) High income 44 (25.7%) 101 (59.1%) 13 (7.6%) 9 (5.3%) 4 (2.3%) Your GPA 24 (14.0%) 88 (51.5%) 26 (15.2%) 24 (14.0%) 9 (5.3%) The appeal of being an ophthalmologist 30 (17.5%) 94 (55.0%) 22 (12.9%) 18 (10.5%) 7 (4.1%) The desire for little contact with emergency situations 37 (21.6%) 83 (48.5%) 19 (11.1%) 27 (15.8%) 5 (2.9%) The degree of stress 48 (28.1%) 67 (39.2%) 23 (13.5%) 26 (15.2%) 7 (4.1%) Lifestyle/flexible work schedule 59 (34.5%) 84 (49.1%) 13 (7.6%) 8 (4.7%) 7 (4.1%) The opportunity to perform procedures 30 (17.5%) 99 (57.9%) 15 (8.8%) 20 (11.7%) 7 (4.1%) Relies on clinical diagnostic skills 32 (18.7%) 101 (59.1%) 19 (11.1%) 14 (8.2%) 5 (2.9%) Routine work/small range of medical problems 40 (23.4%) 86 (50.3%) 15 (8.8%) 25 (14.6%) 5 (2.9%) The difficulty of getting into ophthalmology residency 36 (21.1%) 63 (36.8%) 24 (14.0%) 30 (17.5%) 18 (10.5%) The likelihood that an ophthalmologist can influence patients’ lives 41 (24.0%) 83 (48.5%) 17 (9.9%) 22 (12.9%) 8 (4.7%) Good patient prognosis 43 (25.1%) 91 (53.2%) 20 (11.7%) 11 (6.4%) 6 (3.5%) Personal satisfaction from helping people to see better 56 (32.7%) 89 (52.0%) 11 (6.4%) 11 (6.4%) 4 (2.3%) The geographic location of the training center 23 (13.5%) 75 (43.9%) 34 (19.9%) 17 (9.9%) 22 (12.9%) Duration of the training 25 (14.6%) 93 (54.4%) 30 (17.5%) 17 (9.9%) 6 (3.5%) Research opportunities 24 (14.0%) 84 (49.1%) 35 (20.5%) 19 (11.1%) 9 (5.3%) Variety of the cases and population character 23 (13.5%) 90 (52.6%) 32 (18.7%) 18 (10.5%) 8 (4.7%) Having a role model 19 (11.1%) 84 (49.1%) 33 (19.3%) 23 (13.5%) 12 (7.0%) Number of On-calls 27 (15.8%) 78 (45.6%) 33 (19.3%) 21 (12.3%) 12 (7.0%) The need for the specialty in the market 26 (15.2%) 84 (49.1%) 35 (20.5%) 20 (11.7%) 6 (3.5%) The need for ICU admission in ophthalmology is minimal 29 (17.0%) 76 (44.4%) 32 (18.7%) 27 (15.8%) 7 (4.1%) The risk to a patient’s life in ophthalmology is low 29 (17.0%) 78 (45.6%) 29 (17.0%) 25 (14.6%) 10 (5.8%) Most ophthalmology cases managed on outpatient basis 36 (21.1%) 82 (48.0%) 28 (16.4%) 24 (14.0%) 1 (0.6%) Patient outcomes are typically favorable 35 (20.5%) 94 (55.0%) 20 (11.7%) 19 (11.1%) 3 (1.8%) Wide range of sub-specialties 26 (15.2%) 92 (53.8%) 31 (18.1%) 16 (9.4%) 6 (3.5%) Post-graduation training length is manageable 27 (15.8%) 93 (54.4%) 33 (19.3%) 12 (7.0%) 6 (3.5%) Feasibility of private clinic 49 (28.7%) 81 (47.4%) 20 (11.7%) 15 (8.8%) 6 (3.5%) Use of innovative technologies 42 (24.6%) 90 (52.6%) 16 (9.4%) 20 (11.7%) 3 (1.8%) Interface with other areas of medicine 22 (12.9%) 87 (50.9%) 35 (20.5%) 23 (13.5%) 4 (2.3%) Exposure to Ophthalmology Table 3 summarizes participants' exposure to ophthalmology and related activities. A majority (39.8%) were exposed to ophthalmology during both clinical and basic years, while 33.3% reported no exposure. Over half (61.4%) had never participated in an ophthalmic procedure, and 56.1% had not observed one. Regarding conferences, 40.4% expressed an interest in attending, while only 19.3% attended one. Similarly, 26.3% indicated an interest in ophthalmology research, with 29.8% having participated. Community service activities related to ophthalmology were limited, with 42.7% reporting no involvement. Table 3 Participants' exposure to Ophthalmology and related activities Question Response Count (%) N = 171 Have you ever been exposed to ophthalmology? Neither 57 (33.3%) Yes, in basic years 46 (26.9%) Yes, in clinical and basic years 68 (39.8%) Have you ever been exposed to an ophthalmic procedure? No 105 (61.4%) Yes 66 (38.6%) Have you ever observed an ophthalmic procedure? No 96 (56.1%) Yes 75 (43.9%) Have you ever attended a conference in ophthalmology? I would like to 69 (40.4%) No 50 (29.2%) Not my priority 19 (11.1%) Yes 33 (19.3%) Have you ever participated in ophthalmology research? I would like to 45 (26.3%) No 65 (38.0%) Not my priority 10 (5.8%) Yes 51 (29.8%) Have you ever participated in any community service activity related to ophthalmology? I would like to 41 (24.0%) No 73 (42.7%) Not my priority 7 (4.1%) Yes 50 (29.2%) Independent predictors for choosing Ophthalmology The logistic regression analysis (Table 4 ) identified key predictors of choosing ophthalmology as a future specialty. The academic level was a significant predictor, with 6th-year students being less likely to choose ophthalmology compared to 2nd-year students (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.03–0.56, p = 0.01). Similarly, interns were less likely to choose ophthalmology (OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.04–0.84, p = 0.03). Students deciding their specialty preference during clinical years were less likely to choose ophthalmology compared to those deciding before medical school (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.21–0.97, p = 0.04). Gender, marital status, GPA, and age were not significant predictors in the multivariate analysis. Table 4 Logistic regression analysis of independent predictors for choosing ophthalmology as a future specialty Variables Multivariate Regression OR (95% C.I) P-Value Gender Female (reference) 1 (r) 0.24 Male 1.3 (0.8–2.2) Marital Status Single (reference) 1 (r) 0.58 Married 1.5 (0.3–7.1) Age Less than 21 years (reference) 1 (r) 0.39 21–22 years 1.6 (0.57–4.32) 0.37 23 years and more 2.453 (0.67–8.9) 0.17 Level of Study 2nd year (reference) 1 (r) 0.03 3rd year 1.3 (0.47–3.6) 0.59 4th year 0.6 (0.19–1.84) 0.36 5th year 0.3 (0.08–1.14) 0.07 6th year 0.13 (0.03–0.56) 0.01 Internship 0.18 (0.04–0.84) 0.03 GPA < 3 1 (r) 0.89 3–3.5 1.2 (0.61–2.2) 0.64 3.5–4 1.09 (0.59–1.9) 0.77 When Did You Make Your Specialty Preference? Before medical school 1 (r) 0.21 During basic science 0.68 (0.28–1.62) 0.38 During clinical years 0.45 (0.21–0.97) 0.04 Others 0.7 (0.31–1.57) 0.38 * p-value < 0.05 Discussion Ophthalmology is a unique and highly specialized field of medicine that combines precision, innovation, and a profound understanding of the human eye and its complexities [3]. Choosing to pursue a career in this discipline is not merely a professional decision but a lifelong commitment to excellence. Recognizing these demands, our study investigated the factors influencing medical students’ decisions to pursue ophthalmology as a future specialty within the context of Saudi Arabia’s medical education system. This exploration provides valuable insights into how students navigate the challenges and opportunities associated with this prestigious field. The high ranking of Internal Medicine as the first choice among medical students (11.7% ) can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the field's breadth and scope, encompassing diverse patient populations and clinical settings, may appeal to students seeking a wide range of experiences and intellectual challenges. Secondly, the perceived accessibility of Internal Medicine residency positions, with a larger number of available spots compared to more competitive specialties, could influence student choices. This greater availability may make it a more attainable goal for students, especially in the context of the competitive residency application process. Furthermore, the diverse career paths within Internal Medicine, including both general practice and various subspecialties, provide flexibility and allow students to tailor their careers according to their evolving interests. This versatility may be particularly attractive to students who are still exploring their specific career goals within medicine. It is important to acknowledge that while factors like ease of acceptance and seat availability play a role, they do not fully explain the popularity of Internal Medicine. Many students are genuinely drawn to the intellectual challenges, patient interactions, and the opportunity to provide comprehensive patient care that the field offers. Our finding indicated that 57.2% of participants expressed interest in ophthalmology as a future career, highlighting a notable interest in this specialty. This contracted with studies such as those by Al-Barry et al. (2021) and Madani et al. (2018), which identified ophthalmology as a less popular and competitive specialty [11,12]. However, the proportion of students ranking ophthalmology as their first choice in this study (6.1%) is higher than the 5.6% reported by Madani et al., reflecting a slow-growing interest in ophthalmology in recent years. Personal interest emerged as the most significant factor influencing specialty choice, consistent with Al-Barry et al.’s findings, emphasizing the role of intrinsic motivation in career decision-making. The study revealed that age and academic level significantly impacted the desire to pursue ophthalmology. Younger students (< 21 years) and those in earlier academic levels, particularly 2nd and 3rd years, were more likely to prefer ophthalmology. This may reflect the optimism and broader exploration of career possibilities among junior students, as opposed to senior students who may have developed preferences based on clinical rotations or other factors [13]. These findings are consistent with prior research, which suggests that early exposure to a specialty positively influences career decisions [14]. Gender, marital status, and GPA did not show significant associations with the choice of ophthalmology, contrasting with Madani et al.’s findings of a female preponderance among students interested in ophthalmology [12]. This discrepancy might be attributed to differences in study populations or shifts in gender dynamics over time. Exposure to ophthalmology during clinical and basic years was reported by 39.8% of participants, while 33.3% had no exposure. These figures underscore the importance of integrating ophthalmology rotations and related activities, such as conferences, research, and community service, into the medical curriculum. Students who participated in ophthalmology-related activities demonstrated higher interest in the specialty, consistent with studies by Madani et al. and Chen et al., which highlighted the influence of positive experiences and early engagement on career preferences [12,15]. Consistent with Al-Barry et al.’s study, personal satisfaction from improving vision and the good prognosis of ophthalmology cases were key motivators for students. Lifestyle considerations, such as flexible work schedules and minimal emergency demands, were also significant factors, echoing findings from Madani et al. and Savur et al [16]. These lifestyle attributes make ophthalmology appealing, particularly for students prioritizing work-life balance, a growing trend among medical graduates globally. Conversely, barriers such as the difficulty of securing residency positions and the perceived reliance on fine motor skills were deterrents for some students [17]. These challenges align with findings from studies by Savur et al. and others, which identified the competitive nature of ophthalmology residency programs and misconceptions about the specialty as obstacles to recruitment [18]. The findings suggest that academic level, internship experience, and the timing of specialty choice all play crucial roles in the decision-making process for medical students considering ophthalmology. The fact that later-year students and interns were less likely to choose ophthalmology underscores the importance of early and continuous exposure to this specialty, especially considering the growing demand for ophthalmologists globally. The logistic regression analysis identified academic level and the timing of specialty preference as significant predictors for choosing ophthalmology. Senior students (6th year and interns) were less likely to choose ophthalmology, possibly due to greater exposure to alternative specialties or a shift in priorities. Students who made their specialty decision before medical school were more inclined to pursue ophthalmology, highlighting the role of early career aspirations and the need for targeted outreach to pre-medical and junior medical students [19]. The findings underscore the need for strategic interventions to enhance the appeal and accessibility of ophthalmology as a specialty. Addressing barriers such as residency competitiveness and misconceptions about the specialty could attract more students. Integrating ophthalmology rotations earlier in the medical curriculum and providing opportunities for hands-on experiences, mentorship, and exposure to the field’s technological advancements may further inspire interest. Efforts should also focus on addressing geographic disparities in the distribution of ophthalmologists in Saudi Arabia, as highlighted by Aldebasi et al. (2024) [7]. With ophthalmology residency positions often concentrated in larger cities, students from rural or underserved regions may face limited opportunities [7,20]. Expanding training programs and promoting rural ophthalmology practice could help address workforce imbalances. Limitations This study has several limitations. First, its cross-sectional design precludes the establishment of causal relationships between factors and career preferences. Second, the study relied on self-reported data, which may introduce recall bias or social desirability bias. Third, the sample was limited to medical students from select institutions, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other regions or countries. Fourth, the study did not include postgraduate trainees whose career preferences may differ due to additional exposure and experiences. Lastly, the influence of faculty, mentors, and clinical rotations on specialty choice was not explicitly assessed, warranting further investigation. Conclusion This study highlights the multifaceted factors influencing medical students' choice of ophthalmology as a future specialty in Saudi Arabia. Personal interest, lifestyle flexibility, and the opportunity to improve patient vision emerged as significant motivators, while barriers such as residency competitiveness and perceived technical challenges deterred some students. Early exposure to ophthalmology and positive experiences through clinical rotations, research, and community service were associated with greater interest in the field. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including enhancing early ophthalmology exposure and addressing misconceptions, to attract more students and ensure a well-distributed and sustainable ophthalmology workforce in Saudi Arabia. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Al-Baha University College of Medicine (IRB/SUR/BU-FM/2024/125) . Informed consent was obtained from all participants before their enrollment in the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable Availability of data and materials: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [Al Khathami, Abdulmajeed], upon reasonable request. Competing interests: The authors do not have any conflict of interest. Funding: The authors do not have any conflict of funding to declare. Authors' contributions: A.A. : Conceived and designed the study, coordinated the data collection, analyzed the results, and wrote the manuscript. He provided significant contributions to the interpretation of data and revised the manuscript for intellectual content. N.A. : Participated in the design of the study, assisted with data collection, and performed statistical analysis. Contributed to drafting and editing the manuscript. R.A. : Contributed to the study design, assisted with data interpretation, and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. She was involved in the data collection and analysis process. A.N.A. : Participated in the design and methodology of the research. Assisted in data collection, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. S.A. : Contributed to the design of the study, facilitated data collection, and reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual contributions. Participated in the interpretation and analysis of findings. K.A. : Supported the study design, participated in the data collection, and contributed to the revision of the manuscript. He provided important insights during data analysis and discussion. S.M.A. : Assisted in data collection and interpretation, and contributed to the drafting and revision of the manuscript. She helped in the critical analysis of the results. 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J Acad Ophthalmol. 2020;12:e124–33. Savur SA. Chasing a postgraduate degree in Ophthalmology: The medical intern’s perspective. J Clin Diagn Res. 2012;6:1034–7. Lira RPC, Chaves FRP, Arieta CEL. Initial challenges in the career of ophthalmologists. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2013;76:134–5. Yu Y, Ding Y, Paulus YM, Jiang H. Attitudes toward ophthalmology as a prospective career among pre-clinical medical students in China. BMC Med Educ. 2023;23:539. Woodward A, Thomas S, Jalloh MB, Rees J, Leather A. Reasons to pursue a career in medicine: a qualitative study in Sierra Leone. Glob Health Res Policy. 2017;2:34. Cyr ME, Etchin AG, Guthrie BJ, Benneyan JC. Access to specialty healthcare in urban versus rural US populations: a systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2019;19:974. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5854209","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":406608159,"identity":"84f65af8-d10e-4205-8203-9e7aba442a2f","order_by":0,"name":"Abdulmajeed Al Khathami, MBBS","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Ophthalmology, King Fahad Hospital, Al Baha Health Cluster, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"MBBS","middleName":"Abdulmajeed Al","lastName":"Khathami","suffix":""},{"id":406608160,"identity":"77784a40-ba4a-4202-bb18-af51abe54608","order_by":1,"name":"Nada Alharthi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Service Resident, King Salman Medical City, Medina, Saudi Arabia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nada","middleName":"","lastName":"Alharthi","suffix":""},{"id":406608161,"identity":"49c1d1f1-4613-499e-8408-9c884d0c2db4","order_by":2,"name":"Raghad Mutir Alzahrani","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Medicine, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Raghad","middleName":"Mutir","lastName":"Alzahrani","suffix":""},{"id":406608162,"identity":"864bdb91-a3f9-42f7-9e18-abcfc9de71ff","order_by":3,"name":"Abdullah Nasir Alolyani","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Medicine, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Abdullah","middleName":"Nasir","lastName":"Alolyani","suffix":""},{"id":406608163,"identity":"1d1e3d92-50b5-4fc0-9c6e-96a8fe40e2ed","order_by":4,"name":"Salem Ahmed Salem Alshehri","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Salem","middleName":"Ahmed Salem","lastName":"Alshehri","suffix":""},{"id":406608164,"identity":"0552a0ee-2558-4475-8a6b-4b3ee2c081ff","order_by":5,"name":"Khalid Ali M Alghamdi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Medicine, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Khalid","middleName":"Ali M","lastName":"Alghamdi","suffix":""},{"id":406608165,"identity":"a00d483b-48a1-4433-97ff-f328359a4f50","order_by":6,"name":"Shahad Mansour Alharthi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shahad","middleName":"Mansour","lastName":"Alharthi","suffix":""},{"id":406608166,"identity":"2fc6142f-a4a5-4b35-9fb1-5845e8673367","order_by":7,"name":"Ali Hendi Al Ghamdi, MD","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Unit of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ali","middleName":"Hendi Al","lastName":"Ghamdi","suffix":"MD"}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-01-18 09:23:04","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5854209/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5854209/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":74947650,"identity":"2287af3c-b410-48ad-b898-752ba1b780ae","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-01-28 15:51:51","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":108809,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eRanking of chosen specialty choices among medical students (1st, 2nd, and 3rd preferences)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5854209/v1/b9ec19c93ad1ce771a909ab4.png"},{"id":75038817,"identity":"b45a92e4-594c-47ea-80ba-3ebd052c767c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-01-29 18:01:33","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1288477,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5854209/v1/f7469f78-e35d-438d-873b-3e4b3a700476.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"From Classroom to Operating Room: What Attracts Medical Students to Ophthalmology","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eAs medical students progress through their education, they face a pivotal moment that rivals the significance of their initial decision to study medicine: choosing their specialty [1]. This choice shapes not just their professional identity but fundamentally determines the rhythm of their future lives [2]. Within the diverse landscape of medical specialties, ophthalmology stands as a distinct field that combines microsurgical precision with the profound responsibility of preserving and restoring one of humanity's most precious senses \u0026ndash; vision [3].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe journey toward specialization in Saudi Arabian medical schools presents unique challenges and opportunities. Medical students navigate through a complex web of influences, ranging from cultural expectations and family considerations to professional aspirations and personal interests [4,5]. However, the path to ophthalmology often remains less traveled, not necessarily due to a lack of interest but potentially because of limited exposure during formative medical education years.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe landscape of ophthalmology in Saudi Arabia is particularly intriguing. As the kingdom continues its rapid healthcare transformation under Vision 2030, the demand for eye care specialists has grown significantly [6]. This growth coincides with rising rates of diabetes-related eye complications and an aging population, creating a compelling need for well-trained ophthalmologists [7]. Yet, the factors that draw medical students toward or away from this specialty remain largely unexplored in the Saudi context.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCurrent medical education curricula often allocate minimal time to ophthalmology compared to broader specialties like internal medicine or surgery. This limited exposure creates a paradox: how can students make informed decisions about pursuing ophthalmology when their understanding of the field may be incomplete? The challenge is compounded by the unique aspects of ophthalmic practice, which combines outpatient care, intricate surgical procedures, and the opportunity to witness immediate improvements in patient's quality of life years [8,9].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe decision to pursue ophthalmology extends beyond mere career choice \u0026ndash; it reflects a commitment to mastering a highly specialized field that demands exceptional precision, continuous technological adaptation, and a deep understanding of both systemic diseases and their ocular manifestations [10]. However, misconceptions about the specialty may influence students' decisions before they have the chance to fully explore its scope and potential.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite existing studies in Saudi Arabia on factors influencing medical students' specialty choices, there is a notable lack of research focused specifically on ophthalmology. Therefore, We aim to identify the characteristics of ophthalmology that appeal to medical students and have an impact on their decision-making process by conducting a cross-sectional descriptive study among medical students. The insights gained from this investigation will not only enhance our understanding of what draws students to ophthalmology but will also help shape how we introduce and teach this specialty to future generations of medical professionals in Saudi Arabia.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Material and methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStudy design, setting, and population\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn observational cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students at Al-Baha University College of Medicine, a leading institution in the southern region of Saudi Arabia, during the 2024\u0026ndash;2025 academic year. The study involved students from the second year through the internship year to assess their perspectives on ophthalmology as a career choice.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSampling procedures\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe required sample size for this study was calculated to be 346 students, determined using the cross-sectional study design formula for a finite population, as Al-Baha Faculty of Medicine had approximately one thousand enrolled students. The formula used was: n = [1 + {([Z\u0026sup2;P (1\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;P)]/d\u0026sup2; \u0026minus; 1)/Pop}]. Without prior data regarding the proportion of students interested in ophthalmology as a future career and targeting an error margin no greater than 5% at a 95% confidence interval, we set p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;50%, which yielded an initial sample size of 275 using the equation. To account for potential non-response rates commonly associated with web-based surveys, we increased the sample size by 25%, resulting in a final target of 346 undergraduate students.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study employed stratified random sampling, with each academic year representing a distinct stratum. Students were selected from the second year through the internship year, with the sample size distributed equally across these years due to the relatively uniform number of students in each academic cohort, ensuring representative sampling.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eData collection and instrumentation\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData collection was conducted using a web-based, self-administered questionnaire designed to capture comprehensive information about students' attitudes toward ophthalmology.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire employed in this study was adapted from previously validated surveys conducted in an analogous research effort that investigated the factors influencing medical students\u0026rsquo; choice of ophthalmology as a career [11,12]. The questionnaire was structured into three primary sections. The first section gathered demographic information, including gender, age, current academic year, marital status, academic performance (GPA), and top three specialty preferences. The second section explored various factors influencing career choices, including personal interest in ophthalmology, expected income potential, lifestyle considerations, private practice opportunities, technical aspects of ophthalmic procedures, clinical diagnostic requirements, work routine preferences, patient satisfaction metrics, and disease prognosis considerations. The final section assessed students' exposure to ophthalmology through experience with ophthalmic procedures, participation in relevant conferences, research involvement, and community service activities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire was validated through expert review by board-certified ophthalmologists and medical educators. A pilot study was conducted with 20 students to test for clarity and reliability, and minor revisions were made based on the feedback received.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe collected data underwent two levels of analysis. Initially, we conducted descriptive statistics, calculating frequencies, percentages, and standard errors of sample variables to present a comprehensive overview of the dataset. Subsequently, logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant predictors of choosing ophthalmology as a future specialization. We calculated Crude Odds Ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0 (IBM, Armonk, New York), with statistical significance set at p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 for all two-sided tests.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEthical considerations\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Al-Baha University College of Medicine \u003cb\u003e(IRB/SUR/BU-FM/2024/125)\u003c/b\u003e. Informed consent was obtained from all participants before their enrollment in the study. Participants were informed about the study objectives and their right to withdraw at any time. All data were collected anonymously and handled confidentially by research ethics guidelines.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eGeneral characteristics of study participants\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 299 medical students participated in the study, with 40.1% being female and 59.9% male (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Among participants, 57.2% expressed a desire to choose ophthalmology as a future specialty. Gender did not significantly influence this preference (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.27). Age groups showed a significant difference, with younger students (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;21 years) being more likely to choose ophthalmology (66.2%, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.03). The academic level also played a significant role (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.003), with 3rd-year students showing the highest interest (76.3%), while interest declined among 6th-year students (38.6%). Marital status and GPA did not significantly affect the choice of ophthalmology. The timing of specialty preference decision-making was significant (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.003), with students deciding before medical school (70.9%) being more likely to prefer ophthalmology compared to those deciding during clinical years (45.4%).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGeneral characteristics of the study participants and the desire to choose Ophthalmology as a future career.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacteristic\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll participants\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eN (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDesire to choose Ophthalmology as a future career\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eN (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGender\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e120 (40.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64 (53.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e179 (59.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e107 (59.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge groups\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLess than 21 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68 (22.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45 (66.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.03\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u0026ndash;22 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e102 (34.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63 (61.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 years and more\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e129 (43.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63 (48.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarital status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarried\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (2.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (62.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSingle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e291 (97.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e166 (57.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"5\" rowspan=\"6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAcademic level\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2nd year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47 (15.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31 (66.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"5\" rowspan=\"6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.003\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3rd year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38 (12.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29 (76.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4th year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65 (21.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42 (64.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5th year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47 (15.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 (53.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6th year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57 (19.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (38.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInternship\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45 (15.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (48.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCGPA\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90 (30.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53 (58.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;3.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86 (28.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37 (43.02%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.5\u0026ndash;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e123 (41.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45 (36.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhen Did You Make Your Specialty Preference?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBefore medical school\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55 (18.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39 (70.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.003\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuring basic science\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50 (16.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33 (66.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuring clinical years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e130 (43.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59 (45.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64 (21.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40 (62.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAll medical students\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e299 (100%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e171 (57.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecialty preferences among medical students\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e provides a detailed visualization of the ranking of chosen specialty preferences among medical students for their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices. Internal medicine was the most frequently chosen specialty across all ranks, especially as the first choice, where it was selected by 11.7% of participants. Ophthalmology followed closely as the second most preferred first-choice specialty at 9.7%, and general surgery, including its subspecialties, was ranked third with 8.4%. For the second-choice preferences, internal medicine retained its leading position (16.4%), followed by ophthalmology (10.4%) and dermatology (8.0%), indicating continued interest in these specialties even as secondary options. For the third-choice preferences, a notable shift occurred, with \"undecided\" emerging as the most common response (14.7%), suggesting uncertainty or openness among students regarding their future career paths. Family medicine and internal medicine were tied as the second most popular third-choice preferences, each accounting for 8.7% of responses. Specialties like ophthalmology (6.7%), orthopedics (6.0%), and pediatrics (6.0%) were also commonly chosen as third preferences, reflecting their appeal as fallback options for many students.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFactors influencing career choice in Ophthalmology\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e highlights the factors influencing students' decision to pursue ophthalmology. Personal interest was the most influential factor, with 66.7% agreeing and 22.2% strongly agreeing. High income and lifestyle flexibility were also significant motivators, with 59.1% and 49.1% agreeing, respectively. Other important factors included the opportunity to perform procedures (57.9% agreed) and the perception of good patient prognosis (53.2% agreed). Conversely, factors such as the difficulty of obtaining residency (36.8% agreed) and the degree of stress (39.2% agreed) were less influential.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFactors influencing career choice in Ophthalmology\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFactor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly Agree (N, %)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgree (N, %)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNeutral (N, %)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisagree (N, %)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrongly Disagree (N, %)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePersonal interest\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38 (22.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e114 (66.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (7.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (0.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (3.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh income\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44 (25.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e101 (59.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13 (7.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (5.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (2.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYour GPA\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 (14.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e88 (51.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26 (15.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 (14.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (5.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe appeal of being an ophthalmologist\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 (17.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e94 (55.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (12.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18 (10.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (4.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe desire for little contact with emergency situations\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37 (21.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83 (48.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 (11.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (15.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (2.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe degree of stress\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48 (28.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67 (39.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (13.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26 (15.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (4.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLifestyle/flexible work schedule\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59 (34.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84 (49.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13 (7.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (4.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (4.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe opportunity to perform procedures\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 (17.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e99 (57.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15 (8.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (11.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (4.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRelies on clinical diagnostic skills\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32 (18.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e101 (59.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 (11.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 (8.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (2.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRoutine work/small range of medical problems\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40 (23.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86 (50.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15 (8.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 (14.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (2.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe difficulty of getting into ophthalmology residency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36 (21.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63 (36.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 (14.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 (17.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18 (10.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe likelihood that an ophthalmologist can influence patients\u0026rsquo; lives\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41 (24.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83 (48.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17 (9.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (12.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (4.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood patient prognosis\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43 (25.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91 (53.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (11.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (6.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (3.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePersonal satisfaction from helping people to see better\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56 (32.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e89 (52.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (6.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (6.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (2.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe geographic location of the training center\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (13.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75 (43.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34 (19.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17 (9.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (12.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuration of the training\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 (14.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e93 (54.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 (17.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17 (9.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (3.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eResearch opportunities\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 (14.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84 (49.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (20.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 (11.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (5.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariety of the cases and population character\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (13.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90 (52.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32 (18.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18 (10.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (4.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHaving a role model\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 (11.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84 (49.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33 (19.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (13.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (7.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNumber of On-calls\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (15.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e78 (45.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33 (19.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21 (12.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (7.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe need for the specialty in the market\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26 (15.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84 (49.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (20.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (11.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (3.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe need for ICU admission in ophthalmology is minimal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29 (17.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76 (44.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32 (18.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (15.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (4.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe risk to a patient\u0026rsquo;s life in ophthalmology is low\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29 (17.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e78 (45.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29 (17.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 (14.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (5.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMost ophthalmology cases managed on outpatient basis\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36 (21.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e82 (48.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28 (16.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 (14.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (0.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePatient outcomes are typically favorable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (20.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e94 (55.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (11.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 (11.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (1.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWide range of sub-specialties\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26 (15.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e92 (53.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31 (18.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (9.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (3.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePost-graduation training length is manageable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (15.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e93 (54.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33 (19.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (7.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (3.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFeasibility of private clinic\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49 (28.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e81 (47.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (11.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15 (8.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (3.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUse of innovative technologies\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42 (24.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90 (52.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (9.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (11.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (1.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterface with other areas of medicine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (12.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e87 (50.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (20.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (13.5%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (2.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eExposure to Ophthalmology\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e summarizes participants' exposure to ophthalmology and related activities. A majority (39.8%) were exposed to ophthalmology during both clinical and basic years, while 33.3% reported no exposure. Over half (61.4%) had never participated in an ophthalmic procedure, and 56.1% had not observed one. Regarding conferences, 40.4% expressed an interest in attending, while only 19.3% attended one. Similarly, 26.3% indicated an interest in ophthalmology research, with 29.8% having participated. Community service activities related to ophthalmology were limited, with 42.7% reporting no involvement.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants' exposure to Ophthalmology and related activities\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eQuestion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eResponse\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCount (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eN\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;171\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHave you ever been exposed to ophthalmology?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNeither\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57 (33.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes, in basic years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46 (26.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes, in clinical and basic years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68 (39.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHave you ever been exposed to an ophthalmic procedure?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e105 (61.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e66 (38.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHave you ever observed an ophthalmic procedure?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e96 (56.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75 (43.9%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHave you ever attended a conference in ophthalmology?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would like to\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69 (40.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50 (29.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot my priority\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 (11.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33 (19.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHave you ever participated in ophthalmology research?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would like to\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45 (26.3%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65 (38.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot my priority\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (5.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51 (29.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHave you ever participated in any community service activity related to ophthalmology?\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would like to\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41 (24.0%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e73 (42.7%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot my priority\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (4.1%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50 (29.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eIndependent predictors for choosing Ophthalmology\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe logistic regression analysis (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e) identified key predictors of choosing ophthalmology as a future specialty. The academic level was a significant predictor, with 6th-year students being less likely to choose ophthalmology compared to 2nd-year students (OR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.13, 95% CI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.03\u0026ndash;0.56, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.01). Similarly, interns were less likely to choose ophthalmology (OR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.18, 95% CI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.04\u0026ndash;0.84, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.03). Students deciding their specialty preference during clinical years were less likely to choose ophthalmology compared to those deciding before medical school (OR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.45, 95% CI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.21\u0026ndash;0.97, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.04). Gender, marital status, GPA, and age were not significant predictors in the multivariate analysis.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLogistic regression analysis of independent predictors for choosing ophthalmology as a future specialty\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMultivariate Regression\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOR (95% C.I)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-Value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale (reference)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (r)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.3 (0.8\u0026ndash;2.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarital Status\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSingle (reference)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (r)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarried\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.5 (0.3\u0026ndash;7.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLess than 21 years (reference)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (r)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u0026ndash;22 years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.6 (0.57\u0026ndash;4.32)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 years and more\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.453 (0.67\u0026ndash;8.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLevel of Study\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2nd year (reference)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (r)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.03\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3rd year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.3 (0.47\u0026ndash;3.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.59\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4th year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.6 (0.19\u0026ndash;1.84)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5th year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.3 (0.08\u0026ndash;1.14)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6th year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.13 (0.03\u0026ndash;0.56)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.01\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInternship\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.18 (0.04\u0026ndash;0.84)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.03\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGPA\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt; 3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (r)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;3.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.2 (0.61\u0026ndash;2.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.5\u0026ndash;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.09 (0.59\u0026ndash;1.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhen Did You Make Your Specialty Preference?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBefore medical school\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (r)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuring basic science\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.68 (0.28\u0026ndash;1.62)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuring clinical years\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.45 (0.21\u0026ndash;0.97)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.04\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.7 (0.31\u0026ndash;1.57)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"3\"\u003e* p-value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eOphthalmology is a unique and highly specialized field of medicine that combines precision, innovation, and a profound understanding of the human eye and its complexities [3]. Choosing to pursue a career in this discipline is not merely a professional decision but a lifelong commitment to excellence. Recognizing these demands, our study investigated the factors influencing medical students\u0026rsquo; decisions to pursue ophthalmology as a future specialty within the context of Saudi Arabia\u0026rsquo;s medical education system. This exploration provides valuable insights into how students navigate the challenges and opportunities associated with this prestigious field.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe high ranking of Internal Medicine as the first choice among medical students (11.7% ) can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the field's breadth and scope, encompassing diverse patient populations and clinical settings, may appeal to students seeking a wide range of experiences and intellectual challenges. Secondly, the perceived accessibility of Internal Medicine residency positions, with a larger number of available spots compared to more competitive specialties, could influence student choices. This greater availability may make it a more attainable goal for students, especially in the context of the competitive residency application process.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurthermore, the diverse career paths within Internal Medicine, including both general practice and various subspecialties, provide flexibility and allow students to tailor their careers according to their evolving interests. This versatility may be particularly attractive to students who are still exploring their specific career goals within medicine. It is important to acknowledge that while factors like ease of acceptance and seat availability play a role, they do not fully explain the popularity of Internal Medicine. Many students are genuinely drawn to the intellectual challenges, patient interactions, and the opportunity to provide comprehensive patient care that the field offers.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur finding indicated that 57.2% of participants expressed interest in ophthalmology as a future career, highlighting a notable interest in this specialty. This contracted with studies such as those by Al-Barry et al. (2021) and Madani et al. (2018), which identified ophthalmology as a less popular and competitive specialty [11,12]. However, the proportion of students ranking ophthalmology as their first choice in this study (6.1%) is higher than the 5.6% reported by Madani et al., reflecting a slow-growing interest in ophthalmology in recent years. Personal interest emerged as the most significant factor influencing specialty choice, consistent with Al-Barry et al.\u0026rsquo;s findings, emphasizing the role of intrinsic motivation in career decision-making.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study revealed that age and academic level significantly impacted the desire to pursue ophthalmology. Younger students (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;21 years) and those in earlier academic levels, particularly 2nd and 3rd years, were more likely to prefer ophthalmology. This may reflect the optimism and broader exploration of career possibilities among junior students, as opposed to senior students who may have developed preferences based on clinical rotations or other factors [13]. These findings are consistent with prior research, which suggests that early exposure to a specialty positively influences career decisions [14]. Gender, marital status, and GPA did not show significant associations with the choice of ophthalmology, contrasting with Madani et al.\u0026rsquo;s findings of a female preponderance among students interested in ophthalmology [12]. This discrepancy might be attributed to differences in study populations or shifts in gender dynamics over time.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExposure to ophthalmology during clinical and basic years was reported by 39.8% of participants, while 33.3% had no exposure. These figures underscore the importance of integrating ophthalmology rotations and related activities, such as conferences, research, and community service, into the medical curriculum. Students who participated in ophthalmology-related activities demonstrated higher interest in the specialty, consistent with studies by Madani et al. and Chen et al., which highlighted the influence of positive experiences and early engagement on career preferences [12,15].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConsistent with Al-Barry et al.\u0026rsquo;s study, personal satisfaction from improving vision and the good prognosis of ophthalmology cases were key motivators for students. Lifestyle considerations, such as flexible work schedules and minimal emergency demands, were also significant factors, echoing findings from Madani et al. and Savur et al [16]. These lifestyle attributes make ophthalmology appealing, particularly for students prioritizing work-life balance, a growing trend among medical graduates globally. Conversely, barriers such as the difficulty of securing residency positions and the perceived reliance on fine motor skills were deterrents for some students [17]. These challenges align with findings from studies by Savur et al. and others, which identified the competitive nature of ophthalmology residency programs and misconceptions about the specialty as obstacles to recruitment [18].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings suggest that academic level, internship experience, and the timing of specialty choice all play crucial roles in the decision-making process for medical students considering ophthalmology. The fact that later-year students and interns were less likely to choose ophthalmology underscores the importance of early and continuous exposure to this specialty, especially considering the growing demand for ophthalmologists globally.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe logistic regression analysis identified academic level and the timing of specialty preference as significant predictors for choosing ophthalmology. Senior students (6th year and interns) were less likely to choose ophthalmology, possibly due to greater exposure to alternative specialties or a shift in priorities. Students who made their specialty decision before medical school were more inclined to pursue ophthalmology, highlighting the role of early career aspirations and the need for targeted outreach to pre-medical and junior medical students [19].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings underscore the need for strategic interventions to enhance the appeal and accessibility of ophthalmology as a specialty. Addressing barriers such as residency competitiveness and misconceptions about the specialty could attract more students. Integrating ophthalmology rotations earlier in the medical curriculum and providing opportunities for hands-on experiences, mentorship, and exposure to the field\u0026rsquo;s technological advancements may further inspire interest. Efforts should also focus on addressing geographic disparities in the distribution of ophthalmologists in Saudi Arabia, as highlighted by Aldebasi et al. (2024) [7]. With ophthalmology residency positions often concentrated in larger cities, students from rural or underserved regions may face limited opportunities [7,20]. Expanding training programs and promoting rural ophthalmology practice could help address workforce imbalances.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eLimitations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study has several limitations. First, its cross-sectional design precludes the establishment of causal relationships between factors and career preferences. Second, the study relied on self-reported data, which may introduce recall bias or social desirability bias. Third, the sample was limited to medical students from select institutions, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other regions or countries. Fourth, the study did not include postgraduate trainees whose career preferences may differ due to additional exposure and experiences. Lastly, the influence of faculty, mentors, and clinical rotations on specialty choice was not explicitly assessed, warranting further investigation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study highlights the multifaceted factors influencing medical students' choice of ophthalmology as a future specialty in Saudi Arabia. Personal interest, lifestyle flexibility, and the opportunity to improve patient vision emerged as significant motivators, while barriers such as residency competitiveness and perceived technical challenges deterred some students. Early exposure to ophthalmology and positive experiences through clinical rotations, research, and community service were associated with greater interest in the field. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including enhancing early ophthalmology exposure and addressing misconceptions, to attract more students and ensure a well-distributed and sustainable ophthalmology workforce in Saudi Arabia.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate:\u003c/strong\u003e The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Al-Baha University College of Medicine\u0026nbsp;\u003cstrong\u003e(IRB/SUR/BU-FM/2024/125)\u003c/strong\u003e.\u0026nbsp;Informed consent was obtained from all participants before their enrollment in the study.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication:\u003c/strong\u003e Not applicable\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials:\u003c/strong\u003e The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [Al Khathami, Abdulmajeed], upon reasonable request.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests:\u003c/strong\u003e The authors do not have any conflict of interest.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding:\u003c/strong\u003e The authors do not have any conflict of funding to declare.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026apos; contributions:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA.A.\u003c/strong\u003e: Conceived and designed the study, coordinated the data collection, analyzed the results, and wrote the manuscript. He provided significant contributions to the interpretation of data and revised the manuscript for intellectual content.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eN.A.\u003c/strong\u003e: Participated in the design of the study, assisted with data collection, and performed statistical analysis. Contributed to drafting and editing the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eR.A.\u003c/strong\u003e: Contributed to the study design, assisted with data interpretation, and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. She was involved in the data collection and analysis process.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA.N.A.\u003c/strong\u003e: Participated in the design and methodology of the research. Assisted in data collection, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eS.A.\u003c/strong\u003e: Contributed to the design of the study, facilitated data collection, and reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual contributions. Participated in the interpretation and analysis of findings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eK.A.\u003c/strong\u003e: Supported the study design, participated in the data collection, and contributed to the revision of the manuscript. He provided important insights during data analysis and discussion.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eS.M.A.\u003c/strong\u003e: Assisted in data collection and interpretation, and contributed to the drafting and revision of the manuscript. She helped in the critical analysis of the results.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA.H.A.\u003c/strong\u003e: Assisted in the study design, helped with the analysis of results, and guided throughout the research process. He critically reviewed and edited the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgments:\u003c/strong\u003e Not applicable\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMcManus IC, Lefford F, Furnham AF, Shahidi S, Pincus T. Career preference and personality differences in medical school applicants. Psychol Health Med. 1996;1:235\u0026ndash;48.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlshahrani M, Dhafery B, Al Mulhim M, Alkhadra F, Al Bagshi D, Bukhamsin N. Factors influencing Saudi medical students and interns\u0026rsquo; choice of future specialty: a self-administered questionnaire. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2014;5:397\u0026ndash;402.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOphthalmology [Internet]. ACS. [cited 2025 Jan 4]. Available from: https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/education/programs/so-you-want-to-be-a-surgeon/section-iii-surgical-specialties/ophthalmology/\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBodenheimer T, Berenson RA, Rudolf P. The Primary Care\u0026ndash;Specialty Income Gap: Why It Matters. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146:301\u0026ndash;6.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYang Y, Li J, Wu X, Wang J, Li W, Zhu Y, et al. Factors influencing subspecialty choice among medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2019;9:e022097.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlasiri AA, Mohammed V. Healthcare Transformation in Saudi Arabia: An Overview Since the Launch of Vision 2030. Health Serv Insights. 2022;15:11786329221121214.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAldebasi T, Alhejji AM, Bukhari BH, Alawad NK, Alghaihab SM, Alakel RM, et al. Ophthalmology workforce over a decade in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: demographics, distribution, and future challenges. Hum Resour Health. 2024;22:19.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShah M, Knoch D, Waxman E. The State of Ophthalmology Medical Student Education in the United States and Canada, 2012 through 2013. Ophthalmology. 2014;121:1160\u0026ndash;3.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNoble J, Somal K, Gill HS, Lam W-C. An analysis of undergraduate ophthalmology training in Canada. Can J Ophthalmol. 2009;44:513\u0026ndash;8.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePinto JB. Simple: The Inner Game of Ophthalmic Practice Success. CRC Press; 2024.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAl-Barry MA, Algethami TF, Alsaedi AM, Alahmadi RN, Bardisi AK, Khoshhal MS, et al. Why Ophthalmology: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Motivating Factors Influencing the Choice of Ophthalmology as a Career Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2021;13:e20844.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMadani FM, Alasiri R, Howldar S, Zagzoog F, Alhibshi N. Perceptions and Career Expectation in Ophthalmology among Saudi Undergraduate Medical Students. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2018;25:142\u0026ndash;9.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTschannen-Moran M, Bankole RA, Mitchell RM, Moore DM. Student Academic Optimism: a confirmatory factor analysis. J Educ Adm. 2013;51:150\u0026ndash;75.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSun M, Huo B, Dow T, Brennan K, Haupt S, Smyth M, et al. Career Factors Valued by Medical Students Interested in a Surgical Career. Int J Surg Educ [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Jan 5]; Available from: https://www.ijsed.com/article/38103-career-factors-valued-by-medical-students-interested-in-a-surgical-career\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChen X, Zafar S, Srikumaran D, Boland MV, Johnson TV, Green LK, et al. Factors Influencing Postgraduate Career Decisions of Ophthalmology Residents. J Acad Ophthalmol. 2020;12:e124\u0026ndash;33.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSavur SA. Chasing a postgraduate degree in Ophthalmology: The medical intern\u0026rsquo;s perspective. J Clin Diagn Res. 2012;6:1034\u0026ndash;7.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLira RPC, Chaves FRP, Arieta CEL. Initial challenges in the career of ophthalmologists. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2013;76:134\u0026ndash;5.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYu Y, Ding Y, Paulus YM, Jiang H. Attitudes toward ophthalmology as a prospective career among pre-clinical medical students in China. BMC Med Educ. 2023;23:539.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWoodward A, Thomas S, Jalloh MB, Rees J, Leather A. Reasons to pursue a career in medicine: a qualitative study in Sierra Leone. Glob Health Res Policy. 2017;2:34.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCyr ME, Etchin AG, Guthrie BJ, Benneyan JC. Access to specialty healthcare in urban versus rural US populations: a systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2019;19:974.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Exposure to Ophthalmology, Specialty Choice, Career Decision-making, Cross-sectional Study, Saudi Arabia","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5854209/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5854209/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe choice of specialty is a pivotal decision for medical students, shaping their professional identities and career trajectories. Ophthalmology, a field combining surgical precision with the preservation of vision, often receives limited exposure in medical curricula. This study aims to explore factors influencing medical students' interest in ophthalmology at Al-Baha University College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia, amid increasing demand for ophthalmologists due to Vision 2030 healthcare reforms.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 299 medical students from the second to the internship year during the 2024\u0026ndash;2025 academic year. Stratified random sampling ensured representative distribution. Data were collected using a validated, web-based, self-administered questionnaire addressing demographics, specialty preferences, motivations, and exposure to ophthalmology. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze data, with p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 considered significant.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterest in ophthalmology was expressed by 57.2% of students. Younger students (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;21 years, 66.2%) and early decision-makers (before medical school, 70.9%) showed higher preference rates (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Influential factors included personal interest (66.7%), perceived income potential (59.1%), and procedural opportunities (57.9%), while barriers included limited exposure (33.3% had no exposure) and perceived difficulty of residency (36.8%). Logistic regression identified academic level and timing of career decision-making as significant predictors. Gender, marital status, and GPA were not significant.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnhanced integration of ophthalmology into medical curricula and targeted interventions to address misconceptions are essential. Increasing awareness of medical students about the huge demand for ophthalmologists in medical practice and facilitating postgraduate study acceptance will significantly influence their decision to choose ophthalmology as a future career. These strategies can promote informed decision-making and align medical education with Saudi Arabia\u0026rsquo;s growing need for specialized ophthalmologists.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"From Classroom to Operating Room: What Attracts Medical Students to Ophthalmology","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-01-28 15:51:46","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5854209/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"99de27fb-3fce-42ee-a24a-80e91b38210f","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 28th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-01-29T17:53:26+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-01-28 15:51:46","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5854209","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5854209","identity":"rs-5854209","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}