Introduction:

The choice of career represents an important decision of the professional, whose motivation can be determined by internal or external factors to the individual.

Objective:

To understand the factors that contributed to the choice of pediatrics among pediatricians at a university hospital.

Methodology:

Descriptive, exploratory and qualitative study conducted at a University Hospital with 14 pediatricians. The data were collected between February and April 2021 through semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed based on Content Analysis.

Results:

Identification with children, professional satisfaction, clinical profile and motherhood were internal factors that motivated the choice of pediatricians. From the external factors, the environment, the aspects of the child, the family and the professionals were fundamental for the decision.

Conclusion:

Affinity with children, exposure to the field of practice, relationship with teachers and identity with clinical work contributed to the choice of pediatrics.

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