Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT2371

Introduction: Specialty selection is a crucial step in a physician’s career, influencing professional, familial, and social fulfillment. This decision is likely associated with proper synchronization with professional demands. Chronotype, defined as an individual’s preference for activity and rest periods over a 24-hour cycle, may influence career choice. This study aims to explore the potential relationship between chronotypes and the specialty choices of medical residents in Tunisia.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study in August 2024 among medical residents from Tunisian university hospitals. Participants completed an online questionnaire that collected demographic data, assessed chronotype using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and included questions on specialty choices and professional satisfaction.

Results: Of the 100 residents contacted, 60 completed the questionnaire, with a mean age of 27 years (± 1.5 years). Among them, 83.3% were in medical specialties, while 16.7% pursued surgical specialties. The majority of residents (38.3%) belonged to the intermediate chronotype group, followed closely by morning-type residents (35%), while evening-type residents accounted for 26.7% of the sample. A significant correlation was observed between chronotype and specialty choice: 82% of morning-type residents opted for medical specialties, likely as a deliberate choice, compared to only 30% of evening-type residents (P = 0.002).

Discussion and Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that chronotype influences the specialty preferences of medical residents. Evening-type residents tend to choose specialties with flexible or predominantly nocturnal schedules, whereas morning-type residents favor disciplines with regular working hours. These findings highlight the importance of considering both biological and sociocultural preferences to better guide future physicians and improve their work-life balance.