Why UK medical students change career preferences: an interview study

Abstract

Introduction Medical career preferences are influenced by a multitude of factors. Currently several specialties are undergoing recruitment problems; we must develop our understanding of medical career decision-making to ensure the production of an appropriate workforce. We aimed to explore the changing career preferences of students during medical school, to better understand this. Methods This was an interpretivist, qualitative study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seven final-year students to explore why their career preferences had changed during medical school. Transcripts of these interviews were thematically analysed. Results Three overarching themes emerged from the analysis: The ‘influence of medical school’, ‘perceived suitability to specialty’ and ‘belonging and fitting in’. A thematic map captured the participants’ perceptions on why their preferences had changed, with major influences echoing existing research. However, novel findings included participants’ personalities and enthusiasm changing over time, the need for a ‘sense of belonging’ and participants defining the term ‘variety’ uniquely, perceiving their current specialty preference to match their definition. Discussion This was an original, in-depth study on changing career preferences, which is an ill-defined subject within the literature. Analysis revealed preferences changed for a variety of medical school, personal and specialty reasons, leading to the construction of an updated model of medical career decision-making. Medical career preference remains a dynamic and ever-evolving phenomenon, influenced by an intricate interplay of internal and external factors. An understanding of this is crucial for future workforce planning.

Exploring Doctors’ Emerging Commitment to Rural and General Practice Roles over Their Early Career

“…Recent qualitative evidence from studies about early career doctors reveals that early career doctors go through a complex and dynamic process in determining their chosen specialty [17]; however, quantitative evidence about this process could be complementary for informing policy. Most evidence about specialty decisions and their timing is largely centred on medical students, demonstrating how specialty choice intention can vary yearto-year over the course of medical school training [18][19][20][21][22]. An Australian study found that 76% of medical students changed their first preference specialty from commencement to exit from medical school [23].…”

Major Factors Causing Uncertainties in Career Selection Among Medical Students of Gujranwala Medical College

“…This also indicates that possible factors such as different institutions could contribute to different findings as was indicated in a study done in the UK to compare career preferences of students of four different medical schools (17). Another study was done in the UK to determine why medical students change their career preferences and also shows some degree of uncertainty present (18). When trying to determine possible factors that could lead to students being uncertain about career choices, it was reported that this medical college lacked effective career planning courses as was said by 80% of the students.…”

Study protocol - Ascertaining the career Intentions of UK Medical Students (AIMS) post-graduation: a cross-sectional survey

“…While there have been: i) studies exploring which specialties junior doctors or medical students intend on pursuing (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), ii) studies which focused on career intentions of those pursuing one specialty or exploring factors that attract them to one specific specialty (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35), iii) studies specifically focused on reasons why doctors are leaving the UK (36, 37, 38, 39, 40), iv) studies exploring how medical students and junior doctors feel about specific aspects of working within the NHS (41, 42, 43, 44), v) studies investigating the desire for a career break post-foundation year 2 (also known as the ‘F3’) (45, 46, 47), there have been no recent, high-powered studies explicitly aimed at medical students, irrespective of current career ambitions or seniority, investigating overall career intentions and correlating it with demographic factors and medical student seniority. There has been one similar study, although focusing entirely on medical students and their intentions to leave the NHS, which is limited by its low power and lack of subanalysis regarding student seniority and demographic factor (48).…”