Vol.:(0123456789) Discover Education (2024) 3:230 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00334-0 Discover Education Research Speciality preferences and inﬂuencing factors among medical students at a South‑Western Nigerian University Glory Olalekan Adebajo 1 · Macellina Yinyinade Ijadunola 2 · Emmanuel Segun Akinwamide 1 · Morenikeji Ilerioluwa Esther Oluduro 1 · Oyindamola David Eluyinka 1 · Comfort Aderonke Odedeyi 3 · Olarenwaju Temitope Elugbaju 3 Received: 17 September 2024 / Accepted: 4 November 2024 © The Author(s) 2024 OPEN Abstract Speciality choice is an important decision for doctors, often starting during medical school. In Nigeria, where the doctor- to-population ratio is low and worsened by emigration, understanding medical students’ speciality preferences can inform strategies to ensure a balanced distribution of specialists. A total of 500 pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire were distributed among medical students at Obafemi Awolowo University of which only 350 full and suitable responses were retrieved. Data were analysed with SPSS 26, and chi-square test of signiﬁcance using a conﬁdence interval of 95% was done with p value of less than 0.05 considered statistically signiﬁcant. The most preferred specialities were surgical (101; 28.9%) and medical (68; 19.4%), while community medicine (9; 2.6%) and laboratory medicine (4; 1.1%) were least preferred. A signiﬁcant number (124; 35.4%) of students remained undecided, particularly among lower-year students. Gender inﬂuenced choices, with males favouring surgery and females leaning towards paediatrics. There was statisti- cal relationship between gender and speciality choice at 95% conﬁdence interval (p = 0.0002 < 0.05, x 2 = 26.26, df = 6). Key factors inﬂuencing speciality choice included personal interest, abilities, and perceived competence. The prestige associated with surgery attracted males, while females preferred specialities oﬀering better work-life balance, such as paediatrics. This study recommends the need to revise the medical curriculum to encourage interest in underrepresented specialities like community and laboratory medicine. Keywords Speciality choice · Medical students Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024- 00334-0. * Glory Olalekan Adebajo, adebajoglory3@gmail.com; Macellina Yinyinade Ijadunola, yijadun@yahoo.com; Emmanuel Segun Akinwamide, cmvickyse@gmail.com; Morenikeji Ilerioluwa Esther Oluduro, ilerioluwab@gmail.com; Oyindamola David Eluyinka, oyindamolaelu@gmail.com; Comfort Aderonke Odedeyi, comfortadewale@gmail.com; Olarenwaju Temitope Elugbaju, scalitayo1@ gmail.com | 1 Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Nigeria. 2 Department of Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. 3 Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.