Reaching Our Successors: Millennial Generation Medical Students and Plastic Surgery as a Career Choice

Abstract

Background:Research shows that career choices are made as a result of preconceived ideas and exposure to a specialty. If plastic surgery is to continue to attract the best, factors that may dissuade the millennial generation medical students from pursuing plastic surgery as a career must be identified and addressed. We explored the determinants of interest in plastic surgery as a career choice amongst millennial generation medical students.Materials and Methods:A survey regarding factors considered important in choosing plastic surgery was conducted amongst final year medical students in September 2011. Participants were asked to rate their agreement or disagreement with 18 statements on a four-point Likert scale (1 = very unimportant; 4 = very important). Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square test to compare categorical variables between male and female medical students. Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant.Results:The most important factors influencing the decision of medical students to choose plastic surgery as a career include; plastic surgeons appear happy in their work 93 (85%), Plastic surgeons have rewarding careers 78 (71%), and plastic surgeons provide good role models for medical students 96 (87%). An overall score of > 3.0 was seen in all the subscales except in gender equity and life style concerns. There were statistically significant differences between male and female students in opinions of a spouse, a significant other, or family members in choosing plastic surgery P < 0.5 and my choice of plastic surgery will be influenced by my decision to have a family P < 0.5.Conclusion:Factors influencing the decision of medical students to choose plastic surgery were related to the perceived quality of life as a plastic surgeon and the ability of plastic surgeons to provide good role models for medical students. Female medical students were more concerned with gender equity and work-life balance in selecting plastic surgery compared to male medical students.

Factors influencing specialty choice and the effect of recall bias on findings from Irish medical graduates: a cross-sectional, longitudinal study

“…Seen as a 'Generation Y' effect [14], doctors born between 1981 and 2000 and now entering the medical workforce are viewed as having different learning styles and work-life expectations than earlier generations [35][36][37]. They are more self-reliant, personally oriented, socially oriented, with more focus on work-life balance than previous generations [14,[38][39][40]. In this study, over 90% -regardless of choice of specialty -agreed the most important factors of influence on their career decision were their own aptitude, the need for work-life balance and their personal drive ('what I really want to do').…”

The millennial generation plastic surgery trainees in sub-Saharan Africa and social media: A review of the application of blogs, podcasts, and twitter as web-based learning tools

“…Born between 1980 and 1999, members of the millennial generation are also referred to as millennials, generation Y, and generation next. [ 9 ] While research into the values, learning styles, and individual differences of the millennials is currently unfolding, globalization has made the characteristics of the millennial generation relatively more uniform. [ 9 10 ] Communication is immediate, via texting, tweeting, and Skyping, with multitasking preferences such as browsing on the Internet and sending phone text messages simultaneously.…”

“…[ 9 ] While research into the values, learning styles, and individual differences of the millennials is currently unfolding, globalization has made the characteristics of the millennial generation relatively more uniform. [ 9 10 ] Communication is immediate, via texting, tweeting, and Skyping, with multitasking preferences such as browsing on the Internet and sending phone text messages simultaneously. [ 10 ] They are also a social group, forging lots of friendships and social circles, and pioneers of social networking.…”

“…[ 10 ] They are also a social group, forging lots of friendships and social circles, and pioneers of social networking. [ 9 ] Some authors have postulated that the millennial generation will be more discerning and comfortable in their requirements for web-based learning content to support their education and training in plastic surgery. [ 6 11 12 13 ]…”

Expectations, Experiences and Perceptions of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residents to Training in Nigeria

“…1 The time of residency is intermediate between the medical/dental school and professional autonomy to practise as a specialist. 2,3 Residency training helps ensure excellence in future patient care; hence, it needs to be attractive enough to retain the best clinicians. 4 However, the interface factors that lead trainees to choose a specific specialty are poorly understood.…”