Medical Students’ Impression of Surgical Pathology as a Career in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and objectives

Surgical/anatomical pathologists study diseases to provide accurate diagnoses, identify pathogens, and participate in treatment. However, there is a need for more surgical pathologists worldwide due to low recruitment rates. One contributing factor is the medical students’ interest and knowledge about surgical pathology as a career option. Understanding medical students’ knowledge and perceptions about surgical pathologist jobs is crucial for future physicians, as it influences collaboration with pathologists and impacts patient care outcomes. This study aims to evaluate medical students’ knowledge of surgical pathologists’ jobs in Saudi Arabian medical colleges, which will help identify gaps in knowledge and develop targeted interventions to promote interest in surgical pathology as a career. For simplicity, in this study, we refer to anatomical/surgical pathology as “pathology”.

Methods and results

A cross-sectional study was done in Saudi Arabia with a total of 478 medical students examining their perception of pathologist's job using a validated questionnaire distributed through social media platforms. The study revealed that 322 (67%) had no interest and did not consider becoming pathologists in the future, and 194 (40%) chose lack of patient contact as the main reason for not joining this field. However, 15% of the students think that pathologists have flexible lifestyle.

Conclusion

Our study shows that many students are not interested in pathology as a career, with varied responses revealing uncertainty about pathologists’ roles. To spark interest, universities should involve students in laboratories and decision-making processes, prioritize understanding pathologists’ roles, and emphasize their impact on patients’ lives.