Medical Students' Perceptions Toward Pursuing a Career in Cardiothoracic Surgery

This study is the first national-level multicentric study in Saudi Arabia to understand the experiences, perceptions, and attitudes toward cardiothoracic surgery. To assess the level of interest in cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) among medical students in Saudi Arabia, as well as potential motivators and obstacles to pursuing CTS training. A national cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey platform (Google Forms). This study is based on a structured questionnaire that was developed by Samiullah Dost et al. The questionnaire was distributed by medical students via social media 30% of the respondents are currently considering a career in Cardiothoracic Surgery, while 35.7% are unsure. The most popular choices include Internal Medicine, Neurosurgery, Pediatrics, and Family Medicine. A significant number of respondents rated their knowledge as low, with 42.4% giving a rating of 1.0 and 26.1% giving a rating of 2.0. The score of perception of pursuing a CT career was 95%, which was evaluated for deterrents and only 5% for attractive factors. Regarding gender, the survey found that 66% of respondents were female, while 34% were male. The difference in the number of male and female students was found to be statistically significant (p-value=0.024).  In conclusion, medical students' perceptions toward pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery in Saudi Arabia are shaped by a variety of factors, including personal interests, cultural norms, educational opportunities, and the healthcare system in the country. In our study, the majority of participants showed more deterrents than attractive factors regarding pursuing a CT career.