Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35081960›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2022

Perceptions of oncology as a career choice among the early career doctors in Pakistan.

Muhammad Aemaz Ur Rehman, Hareem Farooq, Muhammad Ebaad Ur Rehman, Muhammad Mohsin Ali, Amjad Zafar, Muhammad Abbas Khokhar

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Muhammad Aemaz Ur Rehman *Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Neela Gumbad Chowk, Anarkali, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan. aemaz100@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9017-8659
Hareem Farooq *Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Neela Gumbad Chowk, Anarkali, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6364-5848
Muhammad Ebaad Ur RehmanAllama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2697-0668
Muhammad Mohsin AliDepartment of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Neela Gumbad Chowk, Anarkali, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9183-3515
Amjad ZafarDepartment of Oncology, King Edward Medical University, Neela Gumbad Chowk, Anarkali, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
Muhammad Abbas KhokharDepartment of Oncology, King Edward Medical University, Neela Gumbad Chowk, Anarkali, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
King Edward Medical University · PK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLack of oncologists is a growing global concern. With the rise in cancer burden across the world, the supply-demand mismatch of the oncology workforce is projected to increase. Furthermore, oncology is a low-ranked field of choice among medical students, and without understanding the perceptions and concerns of early-career doctors regarding oncology, any investments made in cancer care will be futile. This study aims to determine the opinions of young doctors and the factors most affecting their preferences in order to devise focused strategies to attract more doctors into oncology.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 early-career doctors across various public and private hospitals in Pakistan, from March to November 2019. A close-ended, self-administered questionnaire was used to assess their opinions in terms of the workplace environment, scope, and the emotional and financial aspects of oncology. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23 and the influence (positive or negative) of the perceptions on the choice of oncology as a career was determined by binary logistic regression analysis.

resultsAlmost three-quarters of the participants did not want a career in oncology. The top positive perceptions about oncology in descending order were: progressive field, gender-neutral, stable working hours, financially healthy, and work-family balance. Top negative perceptions were: lack of oncologic facilities in hospitals, radiation exposure, need for private practice, poor patient prognosis, high patient load, and depressing environment. Participants who attended private medical school (p < 0.10), planned to live abroad (p < 0.10), had an oncologist (p < 0.05), cancer survivor or death due to cancer in the family (p < 0.05), were more likely to adopt oncology as a career. Those who believed that poor patient prognosis can have an impact on career choice were less likely to prefer oncology (p < 0.05).

conclusionDespite the rising cancer burden, early career doctors are reluctant to join oncology. Curricular, infrastructural and policy changes are needed at the level of medical school, oncology training and practice to recruit more young doctors and minimize the existing paucity of the oncologic workforce.

Indexed as

PhysiciansStudents, MedicalCareer ChoiceCross-Sectional StudiesHumansMedical OncologyPakistanSurveys and QuestionnairesCancer Care FacilitiesCareer ChoiceMedical OncologyPakistanPhysicians

Identifiers

PMID35081960
PMCPMC8790828
OpenAlexW4210602400

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.