Abstract: SA-PO005
What Do Internal Medicine Residents Consider When Choosing Careers? An Exploratory Q Sort Study with a Focus on Nephrology Interest
Session Information
- Educational Research
November 09, 2019 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Educational Research
- 800 Educational Research
Authors
- Roberts, John K., Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Hargett, Charles, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Wolf, Myles, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
Background
Interest in nephrology among internal medicine (IM) residents has been low in recent years. A better understanding of contemporary attitudes about career choice decisions in IM residents could help nephrology recruiting efforts. Therefore, we used a Q sort survey to better understand IM resident attitudes surrounding career choice decisions in the modern era.
Methods
We invited IM residents (post-graduate year 2/3) at an academic medical center to take a Q sort survey in the late fall of the training year. Residents prioritized 50 statements that reflected issues affecting career choice: scope of practice, patient continuity, procedures, consultant care, general care, family responsibilities, debt, remuneration, length of training, interest in physiology, and lifestyle concerns. To find statistically significant perspectives, we performed by-person factor analysis using the Centroid method. At the conclusion of the Q sort, we collected the residents' top three career interests.
Results
Out of 47 sorts, we identified four viewpoints that accounted for 43% of the variance in the sample. Figure 1 shows the viewpoints. Across all four groups, all agreed that positive interactions with a faculty role model and control over future practice are important for career decisions. Among residents considering nephrology, two loaded onto the Academic Proceduralist viewpoint, five loaded onto the Lifestyle-Family viewpoint, and one loaded onto the Lifestyle-Salary group.
Conclusion
The Q-sort survey identified the dominant career choice viewpoints of contemporary IM residents. Two of the viewpoints were centered on lifestyle considerations: one focused on family responsibilities and the other focused on remuneration, educational debt, and burnout. To make nephrology more attractive to the current generation, changes to the profession are needed. Interventions that support an attractive lifestyle, control of practice, while accommodating to family responsibilities and educational debt may impact interest more than other factors.
Funding
- Private Foundation Support