Exploring the relationship between music genre preferences and medical specialty selections

Introduction: Music preferences have been linked to personality traits, which in turn may influence career choices. This study explores the potential relationship between music genre preferences and medical specialty selections among residents at Padjadjaran University, Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among all residents trained in urology, ophthalmology, and anatomic pathology. Data collected included demographic characteristics, music genre preferences, and work habits related to music. Independent t-tests are used when data are normally distributed, whereas Kruskal-Wallis tests are used when data are not normally distributed. Results: The study included 125 residents (19 pathology anatomy, 33 urology, 73 ophthalmology). Pop was the most preferred music genre across all specialties (48% in urology, 61% in ophthalmology, 52% in pathology anatomy). However, secondary preferences varied: rock (21%) was the second most popular among urology residents, jazz (10.9%) and indie (10.9%) among ophthalmology residents, and classical music (26%) among pathology anatomy residents. Demographic differences were noted, with pathology anatomy residents being older and urology residents having a higher proportion of males. Ethnic distribution was relatively consistent across specialties, primarily mixed ethnicity, Sundanese, and Javanese. Conclusion: While pop music was the predominant preference across all specialties, secondary music preferences varied, potentially reflecting different personality traits associated with each specialty. The study's findings are limited by its single-institution sample and cross-sectional design, necessitating further research with larger, more diverse populations to explore the underlying mechanisms linking music preferences to medical specialisation choices.