Effect of professional commitment on the career plans of intern doctors

Objective: The career choices of medical school graduates are extremely important because of their impact on a country’s medical workforce planning. This study aimed to investigate the impact of medical students’ level of professional commitment (PC) on their career plans. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 15th and November 15th 2023, in a medical faculty in Erzincan Province in eastern Turkiye. A 16-question questionnaire and the medical students’ PC scale were used. A total of 129 intern doctors (93.5%) participated in the study. The t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used in the statistical analyses. Results: Students who voluntarily chose medical school, aimed to become specialist doctors, selected specialties with higher occupational risks, and intended to work in Turkiye after obligatory service exhibited higher levels of PC. Notably, those inclined towards family practice specialty demonstrated lower levels of PC, whereas public health specialty, basic sciences, and certain clinical sciences were not preferred by any of the students. Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that PC levels may influence the career plans of medical students. Further research into factors affecting changes in PC throughout medical education and their impact on future career goals will enhance understanding in this area. © 2025, Professional Medical Publications. All rights reserved.