Preparing surgery for Generation Z - Motivation and protective factors for pursuing a surgical career among medical students and early-career physicians: a cross-sectional study - Summary - MDSpire
To identify and systematically evaluate factors that motivate or deter medical students and physicians from pursuing a surgical career.
Approach:
Study Design: An anonymous, cross-sectional online survey was conducted from October to December 2025 among medical students, residents, and certified surgeons.
Survey Distribution: The survey was promoted through professional social media networks, particularly targeting those interested in surgery.
Questionnaire Development: The questionnaire included 18 items addressing demographics, surgical specialty, work setting, and factors influencing career decisions.
Statistical Analysis: Descriptive data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, with multivariable binary logistic regression to examine discouragement factors.
Key Findings:
In Germany, only 8.9% of female and 6.5% of male medical students consider a surgical career.
Common discouraging factors include heavy workloads, hierarchical environments, and work-life balance concerns.
Approximately 30% of surgeons report experiencing depressive symptoms.
Limitations:
Response rate could not be calculated due to survey distribution via social media.
The questionnaire lacked formal psychometric validation.
