Sophie J Querido1,2, Lode Wigersma3, Olle Ten Cate2. 1. Central Board for Specialty training for Elderly Care Medicine in the Netherlands (SOON), Utrecht, The Netherlands. 2. Center for Research and Development of Education, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 3. Dutch Association of Public Health Physicians (VAV), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Medical students switch career preferences during medical school and likely distinguish themselves in stability of preference over time. The purpose of our study was to gain insight in career paths stability of medical students. METHOD: The authors conducted a longitudinal, four sessions interview study with medical students with three intervals over a three and a half-year period. From all 24 participants the first and second career preferences were documented, analyzed and we calculated a stability score, to interpret career preference stability. RESULTS: Three different pathways were found: a 'winding road' with low stability (0-7 points); a 'country road' with medium stability (8-14 points); and a 'highway' with high stability (15-22 points). CONCLUSION: This study provides a longitudinal view of how the stability of career preference, including the first and second career preference, evolves over time. While we only studied a small sample, the characterization may hold when larger samples are studied.
INTRODUCTION: Medical students switch career preferences during medical school and likely distinguish themselves in stability of preference over time. The purpose of our study was to gain insight in career paths stability of medical students. METHOD: The authors conducted a longitudinal, four sessions interview study with medical students with three intervals over a three and a half-year period. From all 24 participants the first and second career preferences were documented, analyzed and we calculated a stability score, to interpret career preference stability. RESULTS: Three different pathways were found: a 'winding road' with low stability (0-7 points); a 'country road' with medium stability (8-14 points); and a 'highway' with high stability (15-22 points). CONCLUSION: This study provides a longitudinal view of how the stability of career preference, including the first and second career preference, evolves over time. While we only studied a small sample, the characterization may hold when larger samples are studied.
Entities:
Keywords:
Undergraduate; continuing; decision-making; medicine
Authors: Eva Pfarrwaller; Lionel Voirol; Giovanni Piumatti; Mucyo Karemera; Johanna Sommer; Margaret W Gerbase; Stéphane Guerrier; Anne Baroffio Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2022-01-11 Impact factor: 2.463
Authors: Matthew McGrail; Belinda O'Sullivan; Tiana Gurney; Diann Eley; Srinivas Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-11 Impact factor: 3.390