Table 1 Published associations with choice of psychiatry as a career

Gender

More women students than men choose psychiatry

Influences on choosing medicine

Personal or family experience of mental illness is more common

Pre-medical school qualifications

Students are no more likely to have previous degree, but, if they do, are more likely to have an arts or humanities background

School leaving qualifications

Students are more likely to have studied arts or humanities at school

Pre-medical school career choice

Interest in psychiatry prior to medical school is maintained in the final year

Quality of teaching

Positive correlation between teaching placement quality and ATP score

Teaching exposure

Positive correlation between the number of teaching exposures and ATP-18, and likelihood of choosing psychiatry

Enrichment activities

Exposure to enrichment activities (special study modules, electives and university psychiatry clubs) increases the likelihood of students choosing psychiatry

Stage of exposure

Early or late clinical exposure during medical school makes no difference

Duration of exposure

Positive correlation between placement length and likelihood of choosing psychiatry

Setting of exposure

Experience of outpatient or specialist services increases choice of psychiatry than inpatient services

Types of patients seen

Experience of people in recovery or people seeking help are more likely to choose psychiatry

Responsibility during placement

Positive correlation between higher levels of responsibility for patient care and likelihood of choosing psychiatry

Perception of psychiatry compared to other fields

Psychiatry is seen as having better job prospects, more flexibility, higher burnout and lower prestige

ATP-18*

ATP-18 scores are positively correlated with choosing psychiatry

Personality traits

Those choosing psychiatry will score higher on measures of neuroticism and openness compared to those choosing other fields