Beliefs and attitudes of interns at Ibadan General Hospitals concerning ten medical specialties.

Fifty-two interns at Ibadan general hospitals (89% response rate), participated in a study of their attitudes towards ten medical specialties. This involved completing a 40-item questionnaire. The highly preferred specialties (surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine) were those in which there was expectation of material rewards, societal appreciation, quick response of patients to treatment, and inspiration by teachers. The less preferred specialties were viewed negatively in these regards. The findings support the suggestion that, in order to give medical graduates a greater chance to see that the less preferred specialties can provide career fulfillment, interns should be allowed to spend part of their one year clinical rotation in radiology, pathology, psychiatry, anaesthesia and community medicine.