Özet:

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the specialization preferences, affecting factors and professional anxiety levels of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade medical students. Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of 252 students in clinical internships at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Faculty of Medicine in 2019. It was aimed to reach the entire population without calculating the sample size. The Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-TX) was administered to the participants with a questionnaire containing questions about their socio-demographic characteristics, specialty preferences and professional concerns. As the scale score increased, the level of anxiety increased, and if the scale score was ≥42, it was accepted as "high" anxiety level. Number and percentage were used in descriptive data, t-test, One-Way Anova test, Chi-square test and multiple linear regression analysis were used for comparisons between groups. Statistically significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: 56.7% of the 233 students who participated in the study were female, and the mean age was 22.9±1.4. 39.5% were in the 4th grade, 27.5% were in the 5th grade, and 33% were in the 6th grade. 88.8% of the students chose the medical faculty willingly. 76.8% wanted to specialize (47.5% internal sciences) after graduation. 65.7% of them were going to the course to prepare for medical specialty exam. The most common reasons that greatly affect students' specialization preferences were stated as being happy (94.4%) and being professionally satisfied (87.5%). It was determined that students' class (p=0.007), father's education level (p=0.002), willingness to choose medical school (p=0.024) and going to medical specialty exam course (p=0.021) had a significant effect on their request for specialization. The mean STAI score of the students was 47.47±7.47. There was a significant relationship between the willingness to choose medical school and the STAI score (p=0.003). The anxiety level of 79.3% of the students was determined as "high". It was found that voluntarily entering medical school had a significant effect on high anxiety scores in students (95% CI: 1.58-8.07; p=0.004). Conclusion: Although the majority of medical students prefer the faculty willingly and consider becoming a specialist, approximately four out of five students have a high level of professional anxiety. Specialization-related reasons have a significant impact on high anxiety. The reasons that affect the specialization preferences the most are being happy to be in the relevant branch and professional satisfaction. It is very important to study the factors affecting physicians' specialty preferences and anxiety with more standardized scales in terms of directing physicians' professional performance and health policies.

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