{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T00:02:57Z","timestamp":1789603377058,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782691200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789603200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":80,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BMC Med Educ"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Medical specialty choice shapes both physician identity and healthcare systems. Specialty choices are influenced not only by academic interest and aptitude but also by gender norms and socioeconomic pressures. While these dynamics are well documented in high income settings, fewer studies examine how perceived gender roles and income expectations jointly influence specialty preferences in LMICs contexts.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This sequential mixed methods study combined a cross-sectional online survey with semi structured interviews. The quantitative phase included 155 medical students (response rate 79.5%) and examined associations between demographic characteristics and specialty preferences. The qualitative phase comprised 34 interviews purposively sampled across all five cohorts. Interview data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke\u2019s six step framework, following an inductive and reflexive approach guided by Social Cognitive Career Theory to explore how students understood and negotiated gender norms, income potential, and workload intensity.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Quantitative analysis showed no statistically significant associations between income-based specialty preference and gender, GPA, family income, hometown, or high school background (all\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&gt;\u20090.05). High income specialties were selected by 60 students (39%), low-income specialties by 26 (17%), and other fields by 69 (44%), with similar gender distribution across these groups (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.81). In contrast, qualitative analysis revealed pronounced gendered patterns. Many female students chose specialties they perceived as low intensity, often citing anticipated caregiving responsibilities and work life balance concerns as reasons for avoiding surgery, emergency medicine, and other high intensity fields. Male students frequently reported social and familial pressure to pursue prestigious or high-income specialties, prioritizing financial stability and provider roles even when these conflicted with personal interests. Across both genders, themes highlighted the centrality of perceived income, prestige, mentorship inequities, and cultural narratives of sacrifice in shaping career compromises.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Specialty choice among medical students in LMICs reflects not only personal interest but also structural inequities linked to gender norms and income expectations. Although quantitative analysis of demographic factors did not independently predict specialty preferences, qualitative findings revealed powerful social pressures that shape career compromises. Targeted, gender sensitive career counselling, equitable mentorship, and financial support are needed to enable students to choose specialties that align with their values and competencies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-026-09797-1","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T09:49:01Z","timestamp":1782726541000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Breaking stereotypes or making compromises? gender, income, and the unequal landscape of medical specialty choice"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-1803-0875","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ngoc Luong Khanh","family":"Nguyen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-2802-3347","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hoang Viet","family":"Nguyen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Duong Thi Dang","family":"Ngo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dung Boi","family":"Ly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2256-200X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Thuy Minh","family":"Ha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8413-1910","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Quang Thanh","family":"Nguyen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]]},"reference":[{"issue":"6","key":"9797_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0326266","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0326266","volume":"20","author":"QT Nguyen","year":"2025","unstructured":"Nguyen QT, Luong TTH, Nguyen HV, Ngo MQ, Nguyen SH, Nguyen NLK. Aspirations to study medicine, perceptions of a good doctor, and their influence on specialty choice among medical students. PLoS ONE. 2025;20(6):e0326266. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0326266.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"9797_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0297927","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0297927","volume":"19","author":"B Michalik","year":"2024","unstructured":"Michalik B, Kulbat M, Domaga\u0142a A. Factors affecting young doctors\u2019 choice of medical specialty \u2014 a qualitative study. PLoS ONE. 2024;19:e0297927. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0297927.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"6","key":"9797_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0326932","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0326932","volume":"20","author":"QT Nguyen","year":"2025","unstructured":"Nguyen QT, Nguyen MPN, Bui NY, Ngo MQ, Nguyen LVT, Dang TT. The complex interplay of personal and external factors in medical students\u2019 specialty decision-making: a qualitative study. PLoS ONE. 2025;20(6):e0326932. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0326932.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"12","key":"9797_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1064","DOI":"10.3109\/0142159X.2014.923560","volume":"36","author":"M Ibrahim","year":"2014","unstructured":"Ibrahim M, Fanshawe A, Patel V, Goswami K, Chilvers G, Ting M, Pilavakis Y, Rao C, Athanasiou T. What factors influence British medical students\u2019 career intentions? Med Teach. 2014;36(12):1064\u201372. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3109\/0142159X.2014.923560.","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"issue":"3","key":"9797_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1080\/10401334.2011.586928","volume":"23","author":"M van Tongeren-Alers","year":"2011","unstructured":"van Tongeren-Alers M, van Esch M, Verdonk P, Johansson E, Hamberg K, Lagro-Janssen T. Are new medical students\u2019 specialty preferences gendered? Related motivational factors at a Dutch medical school. Teach Learn Med. 2011;23(3):263\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10401334.2011.586928.","journal-title":"Teach Learn Med"},{"issue":"3","key":"9797_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"836","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsurg.2020.08.050","volume":"78","author":"LN Trinh","year":"2021","unstructured":"Trinh LN, O\u2019Rorke E, Mulcahey MK. Factors influencing female medical students\u2019 decision to pursue surgical specialties: a systematic review. J Surg Educ. 2021;78(3):836\u201349. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jsurg.2020.08.050.","journal-title":"J Surg Educ"},{"issue":"1","key":"9797_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.11591\/ijphs.v9i1.20400","volume":"9","author":"RA Rosyila, Syakurah","year":"2020","unstructured":"Rosyila, Syakurah RA. Medical student career choice\u2019s determinants in Asia: a systematic review. Int J Public Health Sci. 2020;9(1):57\u201361. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.11591\/ijphs.v9i1.20400.","journal-title":"Int J Public Health Sci"},{"key":"9797_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-021-02539","volume":"21","author":"Y Sarikhani","year":"2021","unstructured":"Sarikhani Y, Ghahramani S, Bayati M, Lotfi F, Bastani P. A thematic network for factors affecting the choice of specialty education by medical students: a scoping study in low- and middle-income countries. BMC Med Educ. 2021;21:239. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12909-021-02539.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"issue":"1","key":"9797_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjsurg.2022.10.023","volume":"225","author":"S Khan","year":"2023","unstructured":"Khan S. The impact of gendered experiences on female medical students\u2019 specialty choice: a systematic review. Am J Surg. 2023;225(1):33\u20139. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.amjsurg.2022.10.023.","journal-title":"Am J Surg"},{"key":"9797_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"798","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-024-05751-1","volume":"24","author":"T Leutritz","year":"2024","unstructured":"Leutritz T, Krauthausen M, Simmenroth A, K\u00f6nig S. Factors associated with medical students\u2019 career choice in different specialties: a multiple cross-sectional questionnaire study at a German medical school. BMC Med Educ. 2024;24:798. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12909-024-05751-1.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"issue":"10","key":"9797_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1499","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000003555","volume":"95","author":"E Pelley","year":"2020","unstructured":"Pelley E, Carnes M. When a specialty becomes women\u2019s work: trends in and implications of specialty gender segregation in medicine. Acad Med. 2020;95(10):1499\u2013506. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/ACM.0000000000003555.","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"9797_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e026961","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2018-026961","volume":"9","author":"B Kumwenda","year":"2019","unstructured":"Kumwenda B, Cleland J, Prescott G, Walker K, Johnston P. Relationship between sociodemographic factors and specialty destination of UK trainee doctors: a national cohort study. BMJ Open. 2019;9:e026961. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2018-026961.","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"9797_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.11622\/smedj.2018068","author":"JMN Fong","year":"2018","unstructured":"Fong JMN. Impact of financial background and student debt on postgraduate residency choices of medical students in Singapore. Singapore Med J. 2018. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.11622\/smedj.2018068.","journal-title":"Singapore Med J"},{"key":"9797_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6920-14-210","volume":"14","author":"M Alers","year":"2014","unstructured":"Alers M, Verdonk P, Bor H, et al. Gendered career considerations consolidate from the start of medical education. BMC Med Educ. 2014;14:210.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"9797_CR15","first-page":"1733661","volume":"25","author":"M Levaillant","year":"2020","unstructured":"Levaillant M, Levaillant L, Lerolle N, et al. Factors influencing medical students\u2019 choice of specialization: a gender-based systematic review. Med Educ Online. 2020;25:1733661.","journal-title":"Med Educ Online"},{"key":"9797_CR16","first-page":"238212051988891","volume":"6","author":"J Burkhardt","year":"2019","unstructured":"Burkhardt J. Meeting the need for emergency medicine physicians: a national study of factors influencing medical specialty career choice. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2019;6:238212051988891.","journal-title":"J Med Educ Curric Dev"},{"key":"9797_CR17","first-page":"548","volume":"58","author":"L Ashley","year":"2024","unstructured":"Ashley L, McDonald I. When the penny drops: understanding how social class influences speciality careers in the UK medical profession. Med Educ. 2024;58:548\u201358.","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"issue":"5","key":"9797_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e099815","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-099815","volume":"15","author":"QT Nguyen","year":"2025","unstructured":"Nguyen QT, Bui NY, Nguyen MPN, Nguyen HV, Thuy MH. Do structured career counselling initiatives influence specialty preferences in medical students? A longitudinal observational survey study. BMJ Open. 2025;15(5):e099815. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-099815.","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"9797_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Brown SD, Lent RW. Social cognitive career theory. In: Walsh WB, Flores LY, Hartung PJ, Leong FTL, editors. Career psychology: models, concepts, and counseling for meaningful employment. American Psychological Association. 2023:37\u201357. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/0000339-003","DOI":"10.1037\/0000339-003"},{"key":"9797_CR20","unstructured":"Creswell JW, Plano Clark VL. Designing and conducting mixed methods research. SAGE; 2018."},{"issue":"6","key":"9797_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042","volume":"19","author":"A Tong","year":"2007","unstructured":"Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care. 2007;19(6):349\u201357. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042.","journal-title":"Int J Qual Health Care"},{"issue":"2","key":"9797_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","volume":"3","author":"V Braun","year":"2006","unstructured":"Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77\u2013101. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa.","journal-title":"Qualitative Res Psychol"},{"key":"9797_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-016-0551-2","volume":"16","author":"D Petek","year":"2016","unstructured":"Petek D, Gajsek T, Petek Ster M. Work\u2013family balance by women GP specialist trainees in Slovenia: a qualitative study. BMC Med Educ. 2016;16:31. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12909-016-0551-2.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"issue":"3","key":"9797_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.12669\/pjms.36.3.2396","volume":"36","author":"LA Baig","year":"2020","unstructured":"Baig LA. Women empowerment or feminism: facts and myths about feminization of medical education. Pakistan J Med Sci. 2020;36(3):303\u20135. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12669\/pjms.36.3.2396.","journal-title":"Pakistan J Med Sci"},{"key":"9797_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6920-12-82","volume":"12","author":"PJ Heiligers","year":"2012","unstructured":"Heiligers PJ. Gender differences in medical students\u2019 motives and career choice. BMC Med Educ. 2012;12:82. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1472-6920-12-82.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"9797_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-022-03244-7","volume":"22","author":"FA Ladha","year":"2022","unstructured":"Ladha FA, Pettinato AM, Perrin AE. Medical student residency preferences and motivational factors: a longitudinal, single-institution perspective. BMC Med Educ. 2022;22:187. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12909-022-03244-7.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"9797_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e022097","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2018-022097","volume":"9","author":"Y Yang","year":"2019","unstructured":"Yang Y, Li J, Wu X, Wang J, Li W, Zhu Y, Chen C, Lin H. Factors influencing subspecialty choice among medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2019;9:e022097. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2018-022097.","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"9797_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0250693","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0250693","volume":"16","author":"YL Xiao","year":"2021","unstructured":"Xiao YL, Dong M, Shi C, Zeng W, Shao Z, Xie H, Li G. Person\u2013environment fit and medical professionals\u2019 job satisfaction, turnover intention, and professional efficacy: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai. PLoS ONE. 2021;16:e0250693. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0250693.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"4","key":"9797_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0267288","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0267288","volume":"17","author":"E Hitti","year":"2022","unstructured":"Hitti E, Hadid D, Khoury SJ, Tamim H, Makki M, Karam CM. Domestic tethers: gender differences in career paths and domestic responsibilities of top-research medical school graduates. PLoS ONE. 2022;17(4):e0267288. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0267288.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"9797_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1007\/s10888-023-09584-8","volume":"22","author":"TM Vu","year":"2024","unstructured":"Vu TM, Yamada H. The impacts of Confucianism on gender inequality in Vietnam. J Economic Inequal. 2024;22:165\u201384. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10888-023-09584-8.","journal-title":"J Economic Inequal"},{"issue":"6","key":"9797_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"593","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.13820","volume":"53","author":"JP Phillips","year":"2019","unstructured":"Phillips JP, Wilbanks DM, Rodriguez-Salinas DF, Doberneck DM. Specialty income and career decision making: a qualitative study of medical student perceptions. Med Educ. 2019;53(6):593\u2013604. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/medu.13820.","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"9797_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.1001\/archsurg.141.4.405","volume":"141","author":"DA Gargiulo","year":"2006","unstructured":"Gargiulo DA, Hyman NH, Hebert JC. Women in surgery: do we really understand the deterrents? Arch Surg. 2006;141:405\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/archsurg.141.4.405.","journal-title":"Arch Surg"},{"key":"9797_CR33","first-page":"8","volume":"28","author":"J Amer-Mestre","year":"2021","unstructured":"Amer-Mestre J, Charpin A. Gender differences in early occupational choices: evidence from medical specialty selection. Appl Econ Lett. 2021;28:8\u201312.","journal-title":"Appl Econ Lett"},{"key":"9797_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-018-1361-5","volume":"18","author":"E Kristoffersson","year":"2018","unstructured":"Kristoffersson E, Diderichsen S, Verdonk P, et al. To select or be selected \u2013 gendered experiences in clinical training affect medical students\u2019 specialty preferences. BMC Med Educ. 2018;18:159.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"9797_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-019-1691-y","volume":"19","author":"C Olsson","year":"2019","unstructured":"Olsson C, J\u00e4rnbert-Pettersson H, Ponzer S, et al. Swedish doctors\u2019 choice of medical speciality and associations with cultural capital and perceived status: a cross-sectional study. BMC Med Educ. 2019;19:136.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"9797_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e001552","DOI":"10.1136\/openhrt-2021-001678","volume":"8","author":"A Vlachadis Castles","year":"2021","unstructured":"Vlachadis Castles A, Burgess S, Robledo K, et al. Work\u2013life balance: a comparison of women in cardiology and other specialties. Open Heart. 2021;8:e001552.","journal-title":"Open Heart"},{"key":"9797_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1186\/s12960-017-0226-z","volume":"15","author":"E Girasek","year":"2017","unstructured":"Girasek E, Sz\u00f3cska M, Kov\u00e1cs E, et al. The role of controllable lifestyle in the choice of specialisation among Hungarian medical doctors. Hum Resour Health. 2017;15:50.","journal-title":"Hum Resour Health"},{"key":"9797_CR38","first-page":"e405","volume":"165","author":"X Lambrianou","year":"2022","unstructured":"Lambrianou X, Tzerefos C, Janssen I, et al. Gender differences in work\u2013life balance of European neurosurgeons. World Neurosurg. 2022;165:e405\u201314.","journal-title":"World Neurosurg"},{"key":"9797_CR39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-024-05579-9","volume":"24","author":"J Stock","year":"2024","unstructured":"Stock J, Kaifie A. The effects of gender discrimination on medical students\u2019 choice of specialty for their (junior) residency: a survey among medical students in Germany. BMC Med Educ. 2024;24:21.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"issue":"33","key":"9797_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"eado5957","DOI":"10.1126\/sciadv.ado5957","volume":"10","author":"N Hagiwara","year":"2024","unstructured":"Hagiwara N, Duffy C, Cyrus J, Harika N, Watson GS, Green TL. The nature and validity of implicit bias training for health care providers and trainees: a systematic review. Sci Adv. 2024;10(33):eado5957. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.ado5957.","journal-title":"Sci Adv"},{"issue":"3","key":"9797_CR41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.22454\/FamMed.2019.772315","volume":"51","author":"BM Nguyen","year":"2019","unstructured":"Nguyen BM, Bounds G. Factors affecting specialty choice among doctors who received tuition scholarships. Fam Med. 2019;51(3):276\u201381. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.22454\/FamMed.2019.772315.","journal-title":"Fam Med"},{"key":"9797_CR42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"238212052311840","DOI":"10.1177\/23821205231184033","volume":"10","author":"SJ Scheinman","year":"2023","unstructured":"Scheinman SJ, Adonizio T, Schmude M, Jeffries W, Hartle JE, Byerley J. Abigail Geisinger Primary Care Scholars: an innovative educational program addressing critical workforce needs. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2023;10:23821205231184033. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/23821205231184033.","journal-title":"J Med Educ Curric Dev"},{"issue":"1","key":"9797_CR43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1007\/s40596-021-01573-1","volume":"46","author":"DN Shapiro","year":"2022","unstructured":"Shapiro DN. Increasing interest in child and adolescent psychiatry during medical school: launching a summer immersion experience for medical students. Acad Psychiatry. 2022;46(1):70\u20134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s40596-021-01573-1.","journal-title":"Acad Psychiatry"},{"issue":"3","key":"9797_CR44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1177\/09637214241242451","volume":"33","author":"C Kandler","year":"2024","unstructured":"Kandler C, K\u00fchn S, M\u00f6nkediek B, Forstner AJ, Bleidorn W. A multidisciplinary perspective on person\u2013environment fit: relevance, measurement, and future directions. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2024;33(3):198\u2013205. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/09637214241242451.","journal-title":"Curr Dir Psychol Sci"},{"issue":"5","key":"9797_CR45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1023","DOI":"10.1007\/s40670-024-02084-y","volume":"34","author":"M Kramer","year":"2024","unstructured":"Kramer M, K\u00f6nings KD, Prins JT, van der Heijden FMMA, Heyligers IC. Still higher risk for burnout and low work engagement among female residents after 10 years of demographic feminisation. Med Sci Educ. 2024;34(5):1023\u201336. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s40670-024-02084-y.","journal-title":"Med Sci Educ"},{"key":"9797_CR46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"A1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jss.2023.02.042","volume":"288","author":"J Knell","year":"2023","unstructured":"Knell J, Kim ES, Rangel EL. The challenges of parenthood for female surgeons: the current landscape and future directions. J Surg Res. 2023;288:A1\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jss.2023.02.042.","journal-title":"J Surg Res"},{"key":"9797_CR47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"623","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-021-03067-y","volume":"21","author":"MB Kraus","year":"2021","unstructured":"Kraus MB, Reynolds EG, Maloney JA, et al. Parental leave policy information during residency interviews. BMC Med Educ. 2021;21:623. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12909-021-03067-y.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"9797_CR48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"615","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-024-06435-6","volume":"25","author":"C Zheng","year":"2025","unstructured":"Zheng C, Bussies P, Wo L, et al. Factors affecting family planning among general surgery trainees. BMC Med Educ. 2025;25:615. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12909-024-06435-6.","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"}],"container-title":["BMC Medical Education"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12909-026-09797-1","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12909-026-09797-1.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12909-026-09797-1.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T23:16:41Z","timestamp":1789600601000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1186\/s12909-026-09797-1"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]]},"references-count":48,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["9797"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12909-026-09797-1","relation":{},"ISSN":["1472-6920"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1472-6920","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]]},"assertion":[{"value":"18 September 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"22 June 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"29 June 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The study was conducted at VinUniversity, Vietnam, in December 2024. Ethical approval for the broader multifactorial research project on medical students\u2019 specialty choice was obtained from the VinUniversity Ethics Committee, with Dr Quang Nguyen and Dr Thuy Ha serving as principal investigators for the project (Approval No. 55\/2024\/QDVMEC, dated 21 June 2024). The present manuscript represents a focused component of this larger project examining the influence of gender and income on medical specialty choice. As the first author, Ngoc Nguyen, subsequently undertook this component as part of her Master\u2019s program in Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, the questionnaire and study procedures were additionally reviewed and approved by the Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Psychology Department Research Ethics Committee, University of Portsmouth, in compliance with the British Psychological Society Code of Human Research Ethics (Approval No. 2024053, dated 14 November 2024). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to participation. Participation was voluntary, with written informed consent obtained from all respondents. Survey respondents and interviewees received a cover letter explaining the study\u2019s objectives, confidentiality measures, and withdrawal rights. All identifying information (e.g., names, email addresses) was removed prior to analysis, and participants were assigned unique identifiers to ensure anonymity.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Consent for publication","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Dr Ha Minh Thuy serves as a reviewing editor for BMC Medical Education. She had no role in the editorial handling or peer review of this manuscript. All editorial processes and decisions for this submission were managed independently of her involvement. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}}],"article-number":"1476"}}