What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the longitudinal stability of individual medical students' career choices over four years and identify characteristics linked to unstable career intentions.

February 27, 2023BMC Medical EducationOpen Access

Dynamics of career intentions in a medical student cohort: a four-year longitudinal study

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Authors

EPEva Pfarrwaller LVLionel Voirol MKMucyo Karemera

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Overview

Longitudinal cohort study demonstrates fluctuating specialty preferences in medical students, indicating a need for sustained career guidance.

Key Points

To assess the longitudinal stability of individual medical students' career choices over four years and identify characteristics linked to unstable career intentions.
Tracked a cohort of medical students across two classes (N = 262, 61% female) via annual surveys from the end of the pre-clinical curriculum to graduation.
Assessed career intention, personality traits, coping strategies, empathy, and career motives using an instability score ranging from 0 (stable) to 10 (unstable).
Analyzed the distribution of career instability and evaluated associated factors using a stepwise beta regression model.
Students had a mean career instability score of 3.07 (median 3), with 18% (N = 46) never changing specialty choices and 10% (N = 26) switching every year.
The majority of students fell along a continuous spectrum between full commitment and frequent indecision, with no discrete intermediate subgroups identified.
An intention to work in private practice by year 3 and a primary motivation of patient care were significantly associated with more stable career intentions.

Cite This Study

Pfarrwaller et al. (2023) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a7c26e77eebcb99d4a1584a https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04102-w

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February 27, 2023BMC Medical EducationOpen Access

Dynamics of career intentions in a medical student cohort: a four-year longitudinal study

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

EPEva Pfarrwaller LVLionel Voirol MKMucyo Karemera

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Longitudinal cohort study demonstrates fluctuating specialty preferences in medical students, indicating a need for sustained career guidance.

Key Points

To assess the longitudinal stability of individual medical students' career choices over four years and identify characteristics linked to unstable career intentions.
Tracked a cohort of medical students across two classes (N = 262, 61% female) via annual surveys from the end of the pre-clinical curriculum to graduation.
Assessed career intention, personality traits, coping strategies, empathy, and career motives using an instability score ranging from 0 (stable) to 10 (unstable).
Analyzed the distribution of career instability and evaluated associated factors using a stepwise beta regression model.
Students had a mean career instability score of 3.07 (median 3), with 18% (N = 46) never changing specialty choices and 10% (N = 26) switching every year.
The majority of students fell along a continuous spectrum between full commitment and frequent indecision, with no discrete intermediate subgroups identified.
An intention to work in private practice by year 3 and a primary motivation of patient care were significantly associated with more stable career intentions.

Cite This Study

Pfarrwaller et al. (2023) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a7c26e77eebcb99d4a1584a https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04102-w

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