{
  "abstract": "Background/Objectives The Australian healthcare system faces an imbalance in specialty service delivery despite increased doctor supply, including in the specialty of neurology. While various factors influence medical students’ specialty choices, the impact of specialty training selection criteria remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate whether specialty selection criteria influence medical students’ career pathway decisions and assess their perspectives on current selection frameworks.Methods A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to medical students at the University of Adelaide in October 2024. The survey included Likert scale questions assessing awareness of selection criteria and likelihood of pursuing various specialties pre- and post-exposure to selection criteria. Free text responses underwent sentiment analysis using natural language processing.Results Of 995 eligible students, 116 (11.7%) completed the survey. Statistically significant decreases in student interest were observed across multiple specialties after exposure to selection criteria, particularly in Intensive Care (-0.435, p=0.001), Neurology (-0.360, p=0.002), Ophthalmology (-0.348, p=0.001), and Obstetrics and Gynaecology (-0.344, p=0.003). Key deterrent criteria included research requirements, competitiveness, time commitments, and academic award requirements. Sentiment analysis revealed predominantly neutral (42.5%) or frustrated (28.5%) responses, with suggestions for improved transparency and standardization of selection processes.Conclusion Specialty selection criteria significantly influence medical students’ career choices, with exposure to current criteria reducing interest across multiple specialties, including neurology. These findings suggest a need to review and potentially modify selection frameworks to ensure they do not inadvertently discourage qualified candidates from pursuing certain specialties.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Christina Gao"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Thomas Muecke"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Dinan Perera"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Jinara Devinuwara"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Shrirajh Satheakeerthy"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Stephen Bacchi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Robert Casson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "WengOnn Chan"
    }
  ],
  "title": "3567 Current specialty training selection criteria reduce medical students’ interest in neurology as a career pathway",
  "uid": "d114db00-f56c-5011-aebe-08817d5fc22f"
}