Critical care trainees' career goals and needs: A Canadian survey.
BACKGROUND
For training programs to meet the needs of trainees, an understanding of their career goals and expectations is required.


OBJECTIVE
Canadian critical care medicine (CCM) trainees were surveyed to understand their career goals in terms of clinical work, research, teaching, administration and management; and to identify their perceptions regarding the support they need to achieve their goals.


METHODS
The online survey was sent to all trainees registered in a Canadian adult or pediatric CCM program. It documented the participants' demographics; their career expectations; the perceived barriers and enablers to achieve their career goals; and their perceptions relating to their chances of developing a career in different areas.


RESULTS
A response rate of 85% (66 of 78) was obtained. The majority expected to work in an academic centre. Only approximately one-third (31%) estimated their chances of obtaining a position in CCM as >75%. The majority planned to devote 25% to 75% of their time performing clinical work and <25% in education, research or administration. The trainees perceived that there were limited employment opportunities. Networking and having specialized expertise were mentioned as being facilitators for obtaining employment. They expressed a need for more protected time, resources and mentorship for nonclinical tasks during training.


CONCLUSIONS
CCM trainees perceived having only limited support to help them to achieve their career goals and anticipate difficulties in obtaining successful employment. They identified several gaps that could be addressed by training programs, including more mentoring in the areas of research, education and administration.
Maude
M
St-Onge
Keren
K
Mandelzweig
John C
JC
Marshall
Damon C
DC
Scales
John
J
Granton
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D002321:Career Choice; D002648:Child; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003625:Data Collection; D004493:Education; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires