Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-grxwn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-05T10:26:40.474Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reasons why some UK medical graduates who initially choose psychiatry do not pursue it as a long-term career

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2006

TREVOR W. LAMBERT ,
GILL TURNER ,
SEENA FAZEL  and
MICHAEL J. GOLDACRE
TREVOR W. LAMBERT
Affiliation:
UK Medical Careers Research Group, Department of Public Health, Oxford University
GILL TURNER
Affiliation:
UK Medical Careers Research Group, Department of Public Health, Oxford University
SEENA FAZEL
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford and Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust
MICHAEL J. GOLDACRE
Affiliation:
UK Medical Careers Research Group, Department of Public Health, Oxford University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background. Some doctors who initially choose psychiatry do not pursue it as a long-term career. The study seeks to identify reasons for leaving psychiatry.

Method. Postal questionnaire survey of UK medical graduates of 1988, 1993, 1996 and 1999 identified as having left psychiatry; for comparison, doctors who left general practice or trauma and orthopaedics.

Results. Response rate was 74% (572/778); 488 respondents satisfied study criteria (59 psychiatry, 318 general practice, 111 trauma and orthopaedics). The speciality's poor public image, perceived lack of respect from medical peers, perceived threat of violence from patients, under-resourcing and low morale were problems for psychiatry leavers. Job stress, self-assessed unsuitability, and concerns about the lack of evidence-based treatments also influenced decisions to leave psychiatry.

Conclusions. Early exposure to psychiatry may help trainees assess their suitability. Negative perceptions of workforce issues (e.g. low morale) and of clinical issues (e.g. perceived lack of ability to improve prognosis) need addressing to increase retention.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 36 , Issue 5 , May 2006 , pp. 679 - 684
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)