Table 2 Reasons for pursuing postgraduate specialization training
Reason | Explanation | Quotation |
|---|---|---|
Natural progression | Students discussed the pursuit of specialization training as the “natural progression” of their medical training and part of the culture and expectations | “Our lecturers, our supervisors, they push us towards specializing and they want us to specialize. Most of them will try to push you toward their field of specialty…they expect us to specialize.” |
“Just finishing your MBBS is not good enough…you need to specialize.” | ||
Job opportunities | Students perceived more job opportunities for those with specialization training, including academic, private practice and research appointments | “You’ll be employed by the college as a lecturer there.” |
“Depending on the type of research I want to do, I would have more knowledge in that particular field.” | ||
“It allows you to do more private practice…there are more opportunities to see more cases…your income is better.” | ||
Professional impact | Students believed that doctors with specialization training held jobs with greater impact | “I would have to specialize to be effective because most of the decision-making is with the consultants as well as the registrars in the hospital.” |
Recognition | Students desired the recognition that comes from finishing specialization training and having special expertise | “If I am just a general doctor I don’t think I will be in a position to achieve what I really want. I would like to get somewhere where people can recognize me as a consultant.” |
“…to be recognized for being the only person in your field, or one of the few.” | ||
Intellectual stimulation | Students desired further intellectual pursuits beyond their MBBS degree | “I want to learn more about something in a certain specialty.” |
“We all have a dream that someday we will be a consultant in a certain field. We will focus ourselves to one field where we can direct all our efforts.” | ||
Need for more specialists | Students identified the need for more specialist doctors in Malawi | “There is a burden of disease which it would be nice if we had somebody in that field to explore.” |