Career goals of trainee physicians in internal medicine.
OBJECTIVE
To survey Internal Medicine trainees' future career choices and factors influencing their decision-making.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from November 2006 to January 2007.


METHODS
A standard questionnaire was administered to the residents and Interns working in the Department of Internal Medicine of The Aga Khan University Hospital. The questionnaire covered demographic details, specialty choice, work-time distribution and factors influencing career choice. Descriptive statistics were applied.


RESULTS
A total of 49 doctors participated with 57% females; and 43% males, having 33% interns and 67% residents. A minority (22%) opted for internal medicine, while 78% selected sub-specialties with cardiology (20%) being the most sought- after sub-specialty. Majority (69%) wanted to spend more time in clinical activities compared to administration (18%) or research (13%). Majority (92%) wanted to work in an academic setting. Availability of a structured training program (61%), ability to practice broad area of medicine (41%) and prestige of the specialty (41%) highly influenced their career choices. Forty one (82%) wanted to proceed abroad for further training and 80% wanted to eventually practice in Pakistan.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the interviewed under-training physicians wanted to pursue sub-specialty. Clinical work was more attractive compared to research. A structured training program was detrimental in affecting their choices. Majority wanted further training abroad but eventual settlement in Pakistan. The study results can help us create the basis for reforming the current training programs.
Patel
Muhammad Junaid
MJ
Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. junaid.patel@aku.edu
Riaz
Mehmood
M
Tariq
Muhammad
M
Jamil
Sajjad
S
Ansari
Tayyaba
T
Khan
M Shoaib
MS
Samdani
Abdul Jawwad
AJ
Ayaz
Syed Imran
SI
Sorathia
Ayesha
A
Akhtar
Jaweed
J