Trends in junior doctors’ certainty about their career choice of eventual clinical specialty: UK surveys

2013 ◽  
Vol 89 (1057) ◽  
pp. 632-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldine Surman ◽  
Trevor W Lambert ◽  
Michael J Goldacre
Keyword(s):  
Career Choice ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Clinical Specialty

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Choice of Career in Family Medicine Among Junior Doctors in Oman

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
Asma Ali Al-Salmani ◽  
Asma Al-Shidhani ◽  
Najlaa Jaafar ◽  
Abdulaziz Al-Mahrezi
Keyword(s):  
Family Medicine ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Medical Specialty ◽  
World Health ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Myers Briggs Type Indicator ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Type Indicator ◽  
Myers Briggs

Objectives: The number of family physicians in Oman is far below that recommended by the World Health Organization. This study aimed to determine factors influencing junior doctors’ choice of a career in family medicine. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2018 and targeted applicants to Oman Medical Specialty Board residency programmes during the 2018–2019 academic year. Applicants were grouped according to their choice of either family medicine (n = 64) or other specialities (n = 81). A self-administered questionnaire was utilised to compare the applicants’ sociodemographic characteristics, factors influencing their choice of career and their Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) personality traits. Results: A total of 52 family medicine and 43 other residency applicants participated in the study (response rates: 81.3% and 53.1%, respectively). Most family medicine applicants were female (86.5%), married (65.4%) and resided in rural areas (73.1%); moreover, 19.2% were ≥30 years of age. Overall, emphasis on continuity of care, opportunity to deal with a variety of medical problems, the ability to use a wide range of skills and knowledge, early exposure to the discipline, opportunity to teach and perform research and the influence of family or friends were important factors in determining choice of a career in family medicine. Moreover, the MBTI analysis revealed that family medicine applicants were commonly extroverted-sensing-thinking-judging personality types. Conclusion: Knowledge of the factors influencing career choice among junior doctors may be useful in determining future admission policies in order to increase the number of family physicians in Oman.Keywords: Career Choice; Internship and Residency; Medical Specialty; Family Practice; Family Physicians; Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; Oman.

Surgical Training: Still Highly Competitive But Still Very Male

2012 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
SA McNally
Keyword(s):  
Career Choice ◽  
Surgical Training ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Medical Specialties ◽  
Medical Careers ◽  
Training Post

The likelihood of obtaining a training post varies massively between all 65 medical specialties. The competition ratio (defined as the number of applicants per post) varies from 1:1 to 12:1. There are few published competition ratios despite these being useful for junior doctors refining their career choice. Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) was a radical change, initiated in 2007, aiming to streamline, strengthen and shorten training.

scholarly journals The new cultural norm: reasons why UK foundation doctors are choosing not to go straight into speciality training

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Conor Hollis ◽  
Jack Streeter ◽  
Clare Van Hamel ◽  
Louise Milburn ◽  
Hugh Alberti
Keyword(s):  
Career Choice ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Training Centre ◽  
Cultural Norm ◽  
Time Out ◽  
Speciality Training ◽  
Career Uncertainty ◽  
Planned Activities

Abstract Background The number of UK foundation doctors choosing to go straight into speciality training has fallen drastically over the last 10 years: We sought to explore and understand the reasons for this change. Methods We undertook semi-structured interviews with 16 foundation year two doctors, who had not applied to speciality training, from two regional foundation schools. Transcripts were thematically analysed.Results The reasons that foundation doctors are choosing not to go straight into speciality training centre around the themes of feeling undervalued, career uncertainty and a new cultural norm. They report major feelings of uncertainty regarding career choice at such an early stage of their profession and this challenge was magnified by a perceived lack of flexibility of training and the growing normality of taking time out from training. Trainees feel a lack of support in planning and undertaking an “FY3” year and being helped back into the workforce. Trainees overwhelmingly reported that they feel undervalued by their employers. Importantly, however, not going into training directly was not always a reflection of dissatisfaction with training. Many trainees spoke very positively about their planned activities and often saw a break in training as an excellent way to recharge, develop skills and prepare for the rest of their careers in medicine.Conclusions Taking a year or more out of training after foundation years has become the new cultural norm for UK junior doctors and reasons for this include feeling undervalued, career uncertainty and the perception that this is now “normal”. Exploring these factors with participants has generated a number of recommendations related to improving the workplace environment, allowing more flexibility in training and supporting those who chose to take an FY3.

scholarly journals Association of Clinical Specialty With Symptoms of Burnout and Career Choice Regret Among US Resident Physicians

JAMA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 320 (11) ◽  
pp. 1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liselotte N. Dyrbye ◽  
Sara E. Burke ◽  
Rachel R. Hardeman ◽  
Jeph Herrin ◽  
Natalie M. Wittlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Career Choice ◽  
Clinical Specialty ◽  
Resident Physicians ◽  
Choice Regret

scholarly journals Views of UK doctors in training on the timing of choosing a clinical specialty: quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys 3 years after graduation

2018 ◽  
Vol 94 (1117) ◽  
pp. 621-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelly Lachish ◽  
Michael J Goldacre ◽  
Trevor William Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Career Guidance ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Specialist Training ◽  
Clinical Specialty ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Career Advice ◽  
Career Specialty

BackgroundWorkforce studies show a declining proportion of UK junior doctors proceeding directly to specialist training, with many taking career breaks. Doctors may be choosing to delay this important career decision.AimTo assess doctors’ views on the timing of choosing a clinical specialty.MethodsSurveys of two cohorts of UK-trained doctors 3 years after qualification, in 2011 and 2015.ResultsPresented with the statement ‘I had to choose my career specialty too soon after qualification’, 61% agreed (27% strongly) and 22% disagreed (3% strongly disagreed). Doctors least certain about their choice of specialty were most likely to agree (81%), compared with those who were more confident (72%) or were definite regarding their choice of long-term specialty (54%). Doctors not in higher specialist training were more likely to agree with this statement than those who were (72% vs 59%). Graduate medical school entrants (ie, those who had completed prior degrees) were less likely to agree than non-graduates (56% vs 62%). Qualitative analysis of free text comments identified three themes as reasons why doctors felt rushed into choosing their future career: insufficient exposure to a wide range of specialties; a desire for a greater breadth of experience of medicine in general; and inadequate career advice.ConclusionsMost UK-trained doctors feel rushed into choosing their long-term career specialty. Doctors find this difficult because they lack sufficient medical experience and adequate career advice to make sound choices. Workforce trainers and planners should enable greater flexibility in training pathways and should further improve existing career guidance.

Training in Theatre: Are Bigger Hospitals Better?

2012 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
M Field ◽  
S Mitchell ◽  
D van Dellen ◽  
D Wall ◽  
S Roff
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Operating Theatre ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Profound Impact ◽  
And Training

The operating theatre is a central part of a surgeon's working life. Medical students are exposed to it as a learning opportunity and as an introduction to a possible career. Junior doctors experience the operating theatre as a learning and training experience as well as a process in which they play an active role. Despite its obvious importance as a learning environment, it has received comparatively little interest and research as a distinct environment. However, the environment within the operating theatre may have a profound impact on learning and on subsequent career choice.

scholarly journals The new cultural norm: reasons why UK foundation doctors are choosing not to go straight into speciality training

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Conor Hollis ◽  
Jack Streeter ◽  
Clare Van Hamel ◽  
Louise Milburn ◽  
Hugh Alberti
Keyword(s):  
Career Choice ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Training Centre ◽  
Cultural Norm ◽  
Time Out ◽  
Speciality Training ◽  
Career Uncertainty ◽  
Planned Activities

Abstract Background The number of UK foundation doctors choosing to go straight into speciality training has fallen drastically over the last 10 years: We sought to explore and understand the reasons for this change. Methods We undertook semi-structured interviews with 16 foundation year two doctors, who had not applied to speciality training, from two regional foundation schools. Transcripts were thematically analysed. Results The reasons that foundation doctors are choosing not to go straight into speciality training centre around the themes of feeling undervalued, career uncertainty and a new cultural norm. They report major feelings of uncertainty regarding career choice at such an early stage of their profession and this challenge was magnified by a perceived lack of flexibility of training and the growing normality of taking time out from training. Trainees feel a lack of support in planning and undertaking an “FY3” year and being helped back into the workforce. Trainees overwhelmingly reported that they feel undervalued by their employers. Importantly, however, not going into training directly was not always a reflection of dissatisfaction with training. Many trainees spoke very positively about their planned activities and often saw a break in training as an excellent way to recharge, develop skills and prepare for the rest of their careers in medicine. Conclusions Taking a year or more out of training after foundation years has become the new cultural norm for UK junior doctors and reasons for this include feeling undervalued, career uncertainty and the perception that this is now “normal”. Exploring these factors with participants has generated a number of recommendations related to improving the workplace environment, allowing more flexibility in training and supporting those who chose to take an FY3.

scholarly journals Psychiatry as a career choice compared with other specialties: A survey of medical students

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 444-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundararajan Rajagopal ◽  
Kamaljit Singh Rehill ◽  
Emma Godfrey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Family History ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Clinical Specialty ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Career Options

Aims and MethodThe aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of medical students in the UK towards different specialties as career options and to ascertain the position of psychiatry among these specialties. Students belonging to a London medical school completed a questionnaire.ResultsAmong the 301 students who completed the survey, psychiatry was the least popular clinical specialty. The study revealed that the students had a number of misconceptions about psychiatry. A family history of mental illness was significantly associated with choosing psychiatry as a career.Clinical ImplicationsConsidering the unpopularity of the specialty, it is likely that recruitment of psychiatrists will continue to be a major problem for the foreseeable future. Measures need to be taken to dispel the misconceptions about psychiatry.

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