Medical student and psychiatrist perceptions towards a psychiatric career

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate perceptions towards a career in psychiatry among medical students and psychiatrists and identify how recruitment into the specialty may be improved.

Design/methodology/approach

This study locally compares medical student and psychiatric doctor responses to a structured online survey and structured interviews with key managerial figures in the Humber NHS Foundation Trust.

Findings

Comparison across two main areas (pre-decision exposure to psychiatry and reasons for considering a psychiatric career) found that both students and doctors were influenced to make a choice about a career in psychiatry during medical school. Medical students found compatibility with family life to be more important when considering psychiatry, whereas doctors cited content-based reasons as significant pull factors. Stigma and fear of being harmed deterred some students from choosing a career in psychiatry. Structured interview responses reiterated the importance of pre-medical school and undergraduate mentorship in bolstering future recruitment to psychiatry.

Practical implications

Medical students perceive certain career issues differently to their postgraduate counterparts. Widening the content-based appeal of psychiatry and optimising the medical school experience of the specialty via varied and high-quality placements may be a key step towards tackling the national shortfall in qualified psychiatrists.

Originality/value

This is the first published study comparing medical student and psychiatric doctor perceptions of a career in psychiatry.

Citation

Flamini, T., Matthews, N.R., Castle, G.S. and Jones-Williams, E.M. (2017), "Medical student and psychiatrist perceptions towards a psychiatric career", Mental Health Review Journal, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 315-323. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-03-2017-0015