Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Student Career Perceptions: Perspectives from Medical Students in China

Cai, Carla Zi; Lin, Yulan; Alias, Haridah; Hu, Zhijian; Wong, Li Ping

doi:10.3390/ijerph18105071

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 49 publications

(65 reference statements)

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“…A lower percentage was recorded for the choice of turnover to other non-medical fields ( n = 159, 8.0%), yet, this number is impactful to the medical field. This finding broadly supports the work of Carla Zi Cai, who reported high turnover rates of medical students due to the fear of COVID-19 in China [ 13 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Exposure to a specialty in a clinical environment is integral in developing a physician’s professional identity. Previous studies show that such exposure will certainly boost medical students’ confidence regarding their possible future career choice [ 7 , 12 , 13 ]. Interestingly, 280 (34.6%) of the respondents, whose specialty choices were affected by the pandemic, reported discovering new interests or priorities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Saudi medical students’ career choices and perceptions of health specialties: findings from a national cross-sectional study

et al. 2022

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on people across the globe. Its impact on medical students’ education has also been profound. Here, we aimed to comprehensively determine the nature of this impact on their choice of specialty. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students in Saudi Arabia during the pandemic from May to June 2021. Data collected from 1984 medical students were analyzed. Results Of the total sample, 810 (40.8%) respondents reported that the pandemic could affect their choice of specialty, with the majority being in the third year (n = 235). Across all class-years, the most common reason chosen was the inability to explore specialties of interest (n = 539, 66.5%). Another reason cited was the inability to support residency application (n = 175, 21.6%). A majority expressed concerns regarding enrollment in research activities. As high as 17.9% (n = 356) of the respondents admitted that they were trying to avoid specialty with frontline exposure to COVID-19, while 353 students (17.8%) were considering local training programs only. While examining certainty levels, of the 1174 (59.2%) students who reported not being affected by the pandemic, 924 (78.7%) had a weak certainty level. The majority were in the third (54.8%, n = 342) and fourth years (44.8%, n = 212). Conclusions This study is the first attempt to thoroughly examine the effect of COVID-19 on medical students’ choice of specialty. This effect unfurled in 4 out of 10 surveyed students. Many students reported concerns regarding the inability to explore medical specialties and the inadequacy of obtained clinical knowledge. However, a subsidiary effect was observed among students who were assertive about their choice of specialty. These findings shed new light on the exigency of establishing a career counseling framework designed to meet individual learner needs, thereby galvanizing their morale. Further research could explore the long-term implications of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties Matching System.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Saudi medical students’ career choices and perceptions of health specialties: findings from a national cross-sectional study

et al. 2022

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“…Among healthcare providers worldwide, dissatisfaction with income and overwork is prevalent and contributes to loss from the workforce in this field [ 89 , 90 ]. Studies on Chinese medical undergraduates and physicians identified similar reasons for quitting medical practice or quitting medical studies [ 16 , 35 , 36 , 92 , 93 ]. This may suggest that these risk factors affect doctors’ medical careers at a very early stage, and the impact persists, which may lead to their eventual loss from the medical workforce.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A cross-sectional study found that 6.9% of the 1,837 medical students reported decreased willingness to become a doctor after the outbreak of COVID-19, which was strongly associated with depressive symptoms, low professional satisfaction, young age, being female, low income, and negative news about the pandemic [ 35 ]. Another cross-sectional study revealed that nearly 60% of 2,922 medical undergraduates expressed turnover intention, which was attributed to the declining reputation of doctors, low social support, and low resilience [ 36 ]. However, those studies mainly focused on undergraduate medical students.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High prevalence and risk factors of dropout intention among Chinese medical postgraduates

Peng

Yang

Liu

et al. 2022

Medical Education Online

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Background A high attrition rate in medical students has exacerbated the physician shortage in China. However, few studies have explored the risk factors of dropout intention in medical postgraduates. This study compared the prevalence of dropout intention and mental distress between medical and non-medical postgraduates in China and investigated risk factors for dropout intention. This study also explored the impact of medical postgraduates’ perception of the Chinese healthcare environment on their mental status and dropout intention. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using online questionnaires from October 2020 to April 2021. Convenience sampling was used to recruit postgraduates in different majors. Outcomes included dropout intention and potential risk factors, including mental distress, quality of life, and fatigue. Medical postgraduates were additionally assessed for healthcare environment satisfaction, burnout, career choice regret, and experiences of workplace violence. A logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate the association between dissatisfaction, mental distress, and turnover intention. Results A total of 740 medical and 670 non-medical postgraduates participated in the survey. The rates of depression symptoms (33.8% vs. 39.0%, p < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (22.2% vs. 32.4%, p < 0.001), and somatic symptoms (34.7% vs. 42.4%, p = 0.004) were lower in medical postgraduates, while more medical postgraduates (58.4% vs. 48.4%, p < 0.001) reported dropout intention. Dissatisfaction with the healthcare environment (odds ratio [OR]: 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–2.34, p = 0.005), career choice regret (OR: 6.23; 95% CI: 4.42–8.78, p < 0.001), and high perceived stress (OR: 2.74; 95%CI: 1.90–3.94, p < 0.001) remained independently associated with turnover intention. Conclusions Mental distress is common among postgraduates, calling for timely interventions. Medical postgraduates reported higher turnover intention. Healthcare environment perception also affected the mental health and dropout intentions of medical students. A decent future income, reduced workload, shorter duration medical training, and better doctor-patient relationships are urgently needed.

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“…In addition, "regard healthcare as a dangerous job" and "have relatives with medical background" were the influence factors for changing career intention. Other studies have shown that medical students perceived fear [21] and negative feedback from families and friends concerning frontline work [22], and these were risk factors for changes in career intention. Thus, psychological counselling is vital for UM students.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on career intention amongst undergraduate medical students: a single-centre cross-sectional study conducted in Hubei Province

et al. 2022

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Background Undergraduate medical (UM) students faced the difficulties inherent in medical careers due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Thus, imperative containment measures might affect UM students’ career intentions. Information on the factors that may be associated with these students’ career change intentions is limited. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in August 2020 to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on career intention and the associated factors in UM students. Univariate analyses and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify said factors. Results A total of 2040 medical students from the Hubei University of Medicine were surveyed. Univariate analyses showed that grade, attitude towards healthcare, and the degree of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the students’ lives were associated with changes in career choice (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that Grade 2, Grade 5, attitude towards a medical career, and having relatives with a medical background were associated with changes in career choice. The degree of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact was a common and significant factor associated with career preference, career perspective, and ideal workplace. Conclusions Changes in career intentions were particularly influenced by grade, attitude towards being a health worker, and the degree of COVID-19’s impact on the participants’ lives. Treating large-scale public health emergencies rationally, setting up correct views of occupation choice, and building reasonable career planning may reduce the loss of medical talent.

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Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Student Career Perceptions: Perspectives from Medical Students in China

Cited by 15 publications

References 49 publications

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Saudi medical students’ career choices and perceptions of health specialties: findings from a national cross-sectional study

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Saudi medical students’ career choices and perceptions of health specialties: findings from a national cross-sectional study

High prevalence and risk factors of dropout intention among Chinese medical postgraduates

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on career intention amongst undergraduate medical students: a single-centre cross-sectional study conducted in Hubei Province

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