Career Satisfaction and Its Impact on Health Related Quality of Life among Undergraduate Medical Students of Lahore

Abstract

Background: Career satisfaction plays a crucial role in influencing academic performance and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) among medical students. However, limited evidence exists on this relationship in low- and middleincome countries, including Pakistan. Objectives: To assess career satisfaction and its association with HrQoL among undergraduate medical students in Lahore. Methods: A total of 373 undergraduate medical students were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected electronically through a structured questionnaire assessing career satisfaction and HrQoL. Descriptive statistics summarized participants’ characteristics. Spearman’s rank-order correlation was used to evaluate associations between study variables, while the Mann–Whitney U test compared self-rated health across groups, including gender. Results: Among participants, 61.4% were aged ≤21 years and 38.6% were >21 years. Males constituted 49.1% and females 50.9% of the sample. Medicine was the first career choice for 65.4% of students. Overall, 82.3% rated their general health as good, while 17.7% rated it as fair or poor. Additionally, 60.1% stated they would choose medicine again, 55.5% would recommend it to others, 66.1% were satisfied with medicine as a career, and 53.3% considered it an ideal profession. Significant positive correlations were observed between career satisfaction indicators and selfrated health (r = 0.145–0.223; p < 0.05). No significant difference in self-rated health was found between students who chose medicine as their first choice and those who did not (p = 0.967). However, male students reported significantly better health than females (p = 0.009). Major contributors to dissatisfaction included the lengthy training period, stress, and emotional exhaustion. Conclusion: Career satisfaction is positively associated with HrQoL among medical students. Longitudinal studies are needed to explore the long-term effects of career satisfaction on HrQoL.