Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medical students are increasingly choosing nonsurgical specialties; observership programs can address factors influencing them toward surgical careers by allowing preclerkship exposure and mentorship, and correcting misconceptions. The aims of this study were to assess the influence of a peer-led observership program at the Université de Montréal on the career choices of preclinical medical students and to determine the factors associated with a positive observership experience. METHODS: We used a quasi-experimental convergent mixed-methods questionnaire design. From Nov. 19 to Dec. 31, 2018, and Mar. 1 to Apr. 4, 2019, all medical students participating in the observership program were eligible for the study; there were no ineligibility criteria. Using a prospective purposive sampling method, we recruited students via the email sent to confirm their observership. In the week after their observership, we invited the students by email to complete a postintervention survey. We used nonparametric tests to evaluate the impact of the observership on participants' career choices and an inductive data-driven thematic analysis to analyze their responses. RESULTS: Of the 204 students who participated, 157 provided consent, of whom 85 (54.1%) completed questionnaires both before and after the observership. The majority of participants were interested in a surgical specialty before (72 [85%]) and after (68 [84%]) the observership. There was no significant change in the students' choices of surgical specialties after the observership. However, most (68 [81%]) reported being more interested in a surgical career as a result of the observership, which allowed them to see that the type of practice they considered was congruent with a surgical career. Their perceptions of the field of surgery became positive, particularly regarding its pace and atmosphere and the humanistic patient-doctor relationship it required. The experience was influenced by surgeons' and teams' attitudes toward students, knowledge-sharing and quality of exposure. Participants mentioned that their willingness to participate was in part responsible for the success of their experience. CONCLUSION: This observership program allowed an early, positive introduction of students to surgery while challenging stereotypes. It provided a better understanding of surgery, enabling participants to consider this field and potentially influencing their residency application.