From: Why medical students choose psychiatry - a 20 country cross-sectional survey
Factor | Effect |
---|---|
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 |