This latter study concluded that neurology was perceived as the most difficult of the sub-specialties, students felt they were least knowledgeable about this subject and doctors had least confidence in themselves when managing neurological cases [ 3].
To also determine whether neurology was the specialty students consider most difficult and the reasons for this and to appraise their opinion on how neurosciences and neurology were taught in their different universities.
We studied their "subjective" knowledge of a specialty (students' reported knowledge) with "objective" knowledge of it (students actual knowledge as compared to reports of specialists) and their preference for this specialty at different stages of education, and used youth health care as a case study.
In order to secure balanced workforce across the specialties, enrolling students with varied background and beliefs should be considered in the student selection process.
As fresh observers of hospital dynamics across specialties, medical students are in an ideal position to effect change by speaking up.
Numerous studies have been performed, predominantly among physicians of different specialties, medical students and trainees, and family practitioners [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13].
Our results showed almost no gender differences in the specialties the students opted for.
In relation to medical specialties, 7/36 students (4 female, 3 male) commented that they had observed or experienced direct difficulties related to gender during the obstetric and gynaecology rotation, where male students had limited opportunities to obtain practical skills since female patients were reluctant to be examined by male students.
Contrary to other clinical specialties, where students are also presented with very rare diseases which they may rarely -if ever- encounter during their medical career, we primarily concentrated on common underlying aetiologies for lead symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnoea, abdominal pain, or vertigo/dizziness.
Comparison to specialty areas: Students were able to reflect on the similarities and differences between primary care and other specialties.
