ArticlePloS one2024
Factors affecting young doctors' choice of medical specialty-A qualitative study.
Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Geographical Inequalities in the Distribution of Healthcare Specialists in Poland.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Theories and theoretical frameworks used in general practice career choice research: a scoping review.BMC primary care · 2026Article
- Breaking stereotypes or making compromises? gender, income, and the unequal landscape of medical specialty choice.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Education Research: Choosing Wisely: A Mixed-Methods Study of Career Choices of Students Completing Advanced Neurology Electives.Neurology. Education · 2026Article
- "Probably one of medicine's best kept secrets": preliminary qualitative insights into motivations and concerns regarding addiction medicine specialisation in Australasia.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Exploring factors influencing medical specialty choice among undergraduates in The Gambia: a situated expectancy-value theory approach.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- [The risk of choosing a residency in Health Sciences: a narrative review of key factors in decision-making]Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Medicas (Cordoba, Argentina) · 2026Review
- The burden of choice: decision regret in subspecialty selection among young and middle-aged doctors.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Burnout Among Italian Medical Doctors: A Cross-Sectional Study on Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Gratification Post-COVID-19.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Exploring the Validity of an Instrument That Measures Final Year Medical Students' Career Choice Preferences.Advances in medical education and practice · 2025Article
- Specialty choices among new generation of doctors - insights from a Polish survey study.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Development and implementation of a high-fidelity simulation training course for medical and nursing collaboration based on the Fink integrated course design model.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundYoung doctors' choice of medical specialty is essential to maintaining a sufficient health workforce and developing a sustainable healthcare system. The choice of specialization is the result of numerous factors, including doctors' preferences, population needs, and the number of available residency slots. The aim of this article is to explore the factors taken into consideration by young Polish physicians in choosing their future specialty.
methodsWe have conducted 30 structured interviews with randomly selected recent medical school graduates (17 female and 13 male). The study was conducted from December 2022 until February 2023 using online platforms. Data from in-depth interviews were coded using NVivo Release 1.6.1. Then thematic analysis was performed.
resultsRespondents indicated remuneration and career-associated factors as the main determinants, emphasizing that work-life balance, personal motivations, and the flexibility to choose the type of workplace (hospital vs. outpatient clinic) were even more important. Young doctors expect flexibility in working hours and better working conditions in future work, and these factors are important when choosing a medical specialty. Significant difficulties during the selection of medical specialty include limited residency slots in preferred specializations and lack of knowledge concerning the everyday aspects of work in a particular specialty.
conclusionsFactors and limitations influencing the choice of medical specialty should be taken into account by policymakers to address the shortages of doctors in deficit specialties. Knowledge about doctors' preferences regarding their medical specialty could support the development of targeted policies to increase the attractiveness of deficit specialties and reduce the uneven distribution of medical staff.
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