[The effect of some factors on medical student specialty choice of non-primary care--a synthesis of the literature].

The paper analyses the literature on non-primary care specialty choice. The motives for studying medicine and influences on medical student career choice have been presented. The stability of this selection has also been examined. Several predictors of specialty choice such as: demographics, academic performance, income, social status and personality attributes have been identified. Moreover, the influence of prestige, intellectual content, ability to provide sophisticated technology on preferences of non-primary care specialty has been analyzed. Association between empathy and medical specialty choice has been evaluated. What is more, it is presented that internal medicine residents are more likely to be introverted, attentive, to have deeper intellectual curiosity, higher aspiration levels and to be interested in mental stimulations. Furthermore, the surgery residents are more likely to be interested in modern technology, prestige, higher income and to be assertive and extroversive. In addition, students attracted to gynecology like contact with (mostly healthy) patients and express strong believes on reproductive issues. Besides, psychiatry students seem to be sensitive, unstable and impulsive. The analyses of Polish students' attitudes to non-primary care specialties are also presented. There is a positive perception of non-primary care and hospital medicine specialties. The specialties are more attractive because of foreseeable higher income, prestige, opportunities for research and possibilities for mastering skills and knowledge.