The Impact of the General Surgery Clerkship on Medical Students’ Career Plans: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Background: Interest in surgical specialties has been declining among medical students worldwide. General surgery clerkships play a pivotal role in shaping specialty perceptions and career planning. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the general surgery clerkship on medical students’ specialty preferences and to identify factors influencing their inclination toward a sur-gical career.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 223 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-year medical students at a Turkish medical school who had completed the general surgery clerkship. A structured, self-administered questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics, pre- and post-clerkship interest in general surgery, perceptions of theoretical and practical training, the influence of role models, and reasons for choosing or avoiding a surgical specialty. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respons-es. Group comparisons were performed using Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors of considering a career in general surgery. Statistical significance was defined as p 0.05.Results: Before the clerkship, 19.3% of students reported interest in general surgery, 69.5% reported no interest, and 20.6% were undecided. The mean perceived impact of the clerkship on interest was 3.23/5, with no significant difference according to pre-clerkship interest (p= 0.522). Students who were considering a surgical career rated both theoretical and practical training significantly higher than those not considering surgery (both p 0.001). Positive role models were strongly associated with considering general surgery (χ² = 10.41, p = 0.001). Key motivating factors included opportunities for hands-on practice, devel-opment of technical skills, supportive attitudes of faculty and residents, and the perceived prestige of the specialty, while major deterrents were workload, lifestyle concerns, and the long duration of residency. Logistic regression identified positive role modeling, perceived education quality, and clerkship impact as independent predictors of interest in general surgery. The unde-cided group showed response patterns similar to students considering surgery, suggesting a substantial potential for guidance through targeted mentorship.Conclusion: The general surgery clerkship significantly influences medical students’ perceptions of the specialty, with educa-tional quality and role modeling emerging as critical determinants of surgical interest. Nevertheless, concerns about workload, lifestyle, and training length continue to limit enthusiasm for a surgical career. Enhancing hands-on learning opportunities, strengthening mentorship, and addressing lifestyle-related concerns may improve recruitment into general surgery and help steer undecided students toward the field.