Medical internship training in Saudi Arabia: interns’ views and perceptions

Figures & data

Table 1 Background characteristic of the study population

Characteristics	Number	%
Gender
Male	31	43.7
Female	40	56.3
Nationality
Saudi	70	98.6
Non-Saudi	1	1.4
Age groups (years)
20–24	54	75.6
25+	17	24.4
University of graduation
Jazan	67	94.4
Other university	4	5.6
Year of graduation
2013 or earlier	1	1.4
2014	52	73.2
2015	18	25.4
Total	71	100

Table 2 Interns’ attitudes toward orientation workshop on specialty choosing activities attended during internship period

Characteristics	Number	%
Prior idea about different rotations
I had full idea	9	12.7
I had no idea	11	15.5
I had some idea	51	71.8
Source of your idea
Workshops	12	16.9
Internet	14	19.7
Senior colleague	40	56.3
Was the orientation workshop of a benefit to you
Extremely beneficial	0	0
Very beneficial	10	13.9
Moderately beneficial	23	31.9
Slightly beneficial	12	16.7
Not beneficial at all	27	37.5
Was the workshop on specialty choosing helpful to you
Extremely beneficial	4	5.6
Very beneficial	17	23.6
Moderately beneficial	17	23.6
Slightly beneficial	14	19.4
Not beneficial at all	12	16.7
Did not attend	8	11.1
Total	71	100

Figure 1 Interns’ level of satisfaction with the training in the different specialties.

Table 3 Interns’ level of satisfaction with training in the different specialties

Specialties	Male			Female			P-value	Total			P-value
	Unsatisfied	M. Satisfied	Satisfied	Unsatisfied	M. Satisfied	Satisfied		Unsatisfieda	M. Satisfied	Satisfiedb
General Surgery	4 (12.9)	2 (6.5)	25 (80.6)	7 (17.5)	4 (10.0)	29 (72.5)	0.322	8 (11.3)	9 (12.7)	54 (76.1)	0.000
Internal Medicine	2 (6.5)	12 (38.7)	17 (54.8)	5 (12.5)	13 (32.5)	22 (55)	0.081	7 (9.9)	25 (35.2)	39 (54.9)
Obstetrics and Gynecology	9 (29)	12 (38)	10 (32.3)	12 (30)	6 (15)	22 (55)	0.067	21 (29.6)	18 (25.4)	32 (45.1)
Pediatrics	0 (0)	8 (25.8)	23 (74.2)	0 (0)	8 (20)	32 (80)	0.592	0 (0)	16 (22.5)	55 (77.5)

Notes:

a Unsatisfied includes not satisfied and slightly satisfied;

b satisfied includes very satisfied and moderately satisfied.

Abbreviation: M, moderately.

Figure 2 Interns’ views about the quality of training in the different specialties.

Figure 3 Interns’ views regarding level of preparedness for the next step in their career.